Woodford Chronicle

07/02/2023

Spending time with your children away from screens and other distractions is really fun. Passing on a family tradition and strengthening relationships are a couple of reasons why people camp.

Camping with kids may seem like a tough challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Spending time with your children away from screens and other distractions is really fun. Passing on a family tradition and strengthening relationships are a couple of reasons why people camp. Set Reasonable Expectations ...

07/01/2023

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is ringing in fiscal year 2024 by celebrating a record-high $1.94 billion in Illinois’ “rainy day” fund and setting her sights on doubling that figure in the next decade. “$2 billion sounds like a lot of money, certainly in contrast to $48,000,” Mendoza said in an interview Friday.

There are no champagne toasts or fireworks, but when the clock strikes 12 a.m. on Saturday, it’s the start of a new year in Illinois – a new fiscal year, that is. And just as a new year is a time to contemplate recent accomplishments and make resolutions for the future, Illinois Comptroller Susa...

07/01/2023

Before you dash to the grocery store, why don’t we make popsicles at home? Here’s a refreshing treat bursting with red, white and blue colors and fresh fruity flavors that bring relief on hot summer days.

Independence Day is just around the corner. Celebrating the Fourth of July brings a sense of patriotism and community as people gather to enjoy parades, fireworks and barbecues. The summer heat adds an extra sizzle to the festivities, making it the perfect time to cool down by indulging in ice pops....

06/29/2023

In May, there were 2,525 Illinois residences in foreclosure, a 3.6 percent increase from April. Despite having the nation’s highest percentage of homes in foreclosure, Illinois’ numbers are better than they were a year ago.

Illinois has the nation’s highest percentage of housing units in foreclosure. One in every 2,144 Illinois residences was in foreclosure proceedings for May, according to the most recent data from ATTOM, a property data provider. In May, there were 2,525 Illinois residences in foreclosure, a 3.6 pe...

06/29/2023

The annual Eureka Business Association Fourth of July parade will be held on Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m. Lineup will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Eureka Apostolic Christian Church, 700 W. Cruger.

The annual Eureka Business Association Fourth of July parade will be held on Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m. Lineup will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Eureka Apostolic Christian Church, 700 W. Cruger. To improve safety, there are several changes to this year’s parade. The parade route wi...

06/28/2023

Amid record-high inflation last spring, the General Assembly temporarily waived Illinois’ grocery tax for the coming fiscal year and delayed the annual increase in the state’s motor fuel tax for six months. “I would like very much to eliminate entirely the grocery tax, but it is a matter of local governments and what they would do if they didn’t have that income as a result of the grocery tax,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said,

SPRINGFIELD – A new state fiscal year will begin July 1, ushering in the reinstatement of a 1 percent tax on groceries and a second increase to the state’s motor fuel tax in 2023. Amid record-high inflation last spring, the General Assembly temporarily waived Illinois’ grocery tax for the comi...

06/28/2023

Crop conditions are deteriorating across Illinois due to drought as farmers and crop advisers become increasingly worried about whether some crop fields can hang on much longer.

As drought conditions worsened across Illinois last week, farmers and agronomists became concerned about potential ramifications of an extended drought. We’ve put together a collection of their thoughts and observations for this week’s column. Please read on …   Crops drying out; farmers begi...

06/27/2023

The $1 billion in federal funding will build upon Illinois $420 million Connect Illinois broadband infra-structure plan — a part of Rebuild Illinois, focused on delivering upgrades to ensure that every community across the state has 21st century broadband capability.

The governor’s office, along with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), said Illinois will be receiving over $1 billion in funding to support high-speed internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This grant will help fund t...

06/26/2023

The Eureka Public Library will have a new director as of July 1. Assistant director Cindy O’Neill was named by the Eureka Public Library Board of Trustees to succeed Ann Reeves, who announced her retirement effective the end of this month.

The Eureka Public Library will have a new director as of July 1. Assistant director Cindy O’Neill was named by the Eureka Public Library Board of Trustees to succeed Ann Reeves, who announced her retirement effective the end of this month. Reeves began her library career more than two decades ago,...

06/26/2023

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 32. I am 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weigh 130 pounds. I’ve been taking 240 mg of verapamil for all of these years. A few years back, my medication started coming in 120-mg dosages, so I started taking...

06/25/2023

Gardens, farmers markets, and stores are benefiting from the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available during summer months. And summertime brings the best colors of produce..

Gardens, farmers markets, and stores are benefiting from the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available during summer months. And summertime brings the best colors of produce. No fruit or vegetable has the same mix of vitamins and minerals. By eating different fruits and vegetables (in a variet...

06/24/2023

The humble potato is underrated. It’s a low-fat, low-cholesterol source of carbs and protein, packed with vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, calcium and more potassium than a banana. The bad reputation comes from typical toppings, like copious amounts of butter, sour cream and bacon.

Remember stuffed baked potatoes? I was discussing food with some friends, and none of us could recall the last time we had stuffed baked potatoes. We’ve been so occupied with quinoa and cauliflower rice that we overlooked the King of Carbs — good carbs, of course. The humble potato is underrated...

06/23/2023

More than two decades after beginning her library career at Eureka Public Library, Library Director Ann Reeves is set to retire at the end of June.

More than two decades after beginning her library career at Eureka Public Library, Library Director Ann Reeves is set to retire at the end of June. The EPLD Board of Trustees will be hosting a retirement open house in the library’s outdoor pavilion from 4 – 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 26. All comm...

06/23/2023

4G STEM Camp is a weeklong day camp for girls entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in the Peoria area and is aimed at overcoming barriers for girls getting involved with STEM.

Women leaders in Central Illinois’ manufacturing, technology, and education sectors are working together to coordinate the annual 4G (Girl + Games + Gadgets = Genius) STEM Camp to be held at Bradley University. The camp will take place on June 26-30. 4G STEM Camp is a weeklong day camp for girls e...

06/22/2023

In a move that drew intense backlash from immigrant rights advocates, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed House Bill 1298 then immediately filed emergency rules authorized by the law to “temporarily” pause enrollment in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program as of July 1.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration wasted no time last week in exercising new authority granted by lawmakers to limit the number of enrollees in a pair of state-funded health care programs for low-income noncitizens. In a move that drew intense backlash from immigrant rights advoc...

06/22/2023

The National Weather Service has officially designated many areas of northern Illinois and northwest and Indiana as being in a severe drought status. The region has received “significantly” below average rainfall since very early this spring, according to the NWS. The most significant rainfall d...

06/21/2023

Don’t let mosquitoes and ticks ruin your carefree summer fun. As we spend more time outdoors for activities like camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking and barbecuing, there is a greater chance of getting bitten by mosquitoes and ticks.

Today (June 21) is officially the first day of summer, and with that in mind, the Red Cross encourages you to follow some basic steps to make your family’s summer safe one. Don’t let mosquitoes and ticks ruin your carefree summer fun. As we spend more time outdoors for activities like camping, h...

06/21/2023

Top statewide leaders were elected during the 2023 Illinois FFA Convention. held at the Bank of Springfield Center on June 15.

Drought remains at the top of the list of the week’s agricultural news headlines. How long will it last? We’ll also share reports on who was elected to Illinois FFA’s major leadership positions at last week’s state FFA Convention, and a “very early” projection for 2023 Illinois corn yiel...