Free COVID-19 testing Dec. 8 in Rushville

The Illinois Department of Public Health has several mobile testing teams that are dispatched to various locations around the state each week to provide COVID-19 testing.

On Tuesday, December 8, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., an IDPH mobile testing site will be at First United Methodist Church in Rushville in Schuyler County.

Anyone can be tested, regardless of symptoms or immigration status. There is no cost to individuals for testing, but they should bring their insurance cards if they have one. However, insurance is not required.

Specimens will be collected using a simple nasal swab. Drive-through and walk-up testing are both available at most locations.

Site locations are subject to change. Please check the Illinois Department of Public Health website at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing/mobile-testing-sites for the most current mobile testing site location information.

Local governments can seek reimbursements

Local governments applying for federal CURES money (COVID-19 relief funds) are being advised that a policy directive from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity allows for reimbursements of payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services were substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to COVID-19.

This directive might be helpful to smaller communities that haven’t had to purchase a lot of supplies, but still have significant COVID-19 related personnel expenses.

For questions or technical assistance, visit the Local CURE Reporting Portal FAQs at https://dceocures.powerappsportals.com/faqs/ or contact the Local CURE Support Team via email at LocalCURE@crowe.com.

Apply for conservation scholarships!

Applications from high school seniors are now being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2021 Conservation Achievement Scholarship program. 

The ICF awards the annual Conservation Achievement Scholarships to encourage the next generation of leaders to preserve and enhance a sustainable outdoor environment. 

The deadline to apply for the 2021 Conservation Achievement Scholarship is March 1, 2021.

Up to four one-time scholarships of $2,000 are given to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who have demonstrated effective, voluntary and long-term dedication to the preservation, protection, enhancement and/or promotion of Illinois’ natural resources. 

Applicants must be Illinois residents and a senior in an Illinois high school during the year of the scholarship award. One of the scholarships is earmarked for a qualified applicant who is a dependent of a current employee of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

Detailed instructions and the 2021 application form can be accessed through the ICF website at https://ilconservation.org/What-We-Do/Scholarships .

 

IDNR announces CWD deer hunting dates

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has released information about a Special CWD Deer Season, which is scheduled from December 31, 2020, to January 3, 2021, and from January 15 to January 17, 2021.

Hunters must purchase a valid CWD Deer Season permit or have a valid unfilled deer permit from the previous firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer season. Persons using an unfilled deer permit may only take deer appropriate for that permit type (either-sex or antlerless-only). 

Find more information at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/hunting/Documents/2020-2021%20Special%20CWD%20Season%20Hunting%20Information.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2CEAxwjbFHT0piM8dd61rijVEXaWWG18Ro1wy-VQsvTvk5JNbPevAuKj4

Tips for safe holiday decorating

As you are putting up decorations for the upcoming holiday season, please be aware that they can potentially create a fire risk.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2013 and 2017, American fire departments responded to an average of 780 home fires each year that started with decorations. The NFPA notes that two out of every five decoration fires are caused by decorations being placed too close to a heat source, while one-third of the fires are started by candles.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal is offering a few tips for safer holiday decorating:

• Be careful with holiday decorations. Make sure decorations are either flame retardant or flame resistant.

• Keep lit candles at least 12 inches away from decorations or anything that can catch fire.

• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

• Extinguish all lit candles before going to bed or leaving the house.

• Check to make sure your lights are rated for indoor or outdoor use or both.

• Replace any light strands that have worn or broken cords. Make sure to read the recommendation for number of light strings you can string together.

• Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

• If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure to check water levels daily! It is not unusual for a tree to drink two gallons of water the first day it is in the stand.

• Keep real Christmas trees away from a heat source. It can dry out the tree quickly.

More suggestions and information are available at the Illinois Fire Marshal’s Web site at https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/sfm/CurrentFocus/Pages/Winter-Holiday-Safety.aspx

 

Time for lawmakers to get back to work

Seems my Senate Republican colleagues and I are not the only ones who think lawmakers should get back to work. The Nov. 30 edition of the Chicago Tribune has an editorial entitled Enough excuses. Get to work, General Assembly.

In making this point, I am in no way thumbing my nose at the health precautions and guidelines advocated by the Illinois Department of Public Health and CDC. But many other legislative bodies across our nation have found ways to fulfill their responsibilities to their constituents, even if it requires legislative sessions or meetings to be convened remotely via computer. 

Read the editorial at https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-illinois-general-assembly-remote-20201201-7r4xvp6cqfgf3mss7x7gidyq2a-story.html and let me know what you think.

 
Happy 202nd Birthday, Illinois!

On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state in our nation.