Paxton Police Blotter (May 4, 2020)

PAXTON — At 2:13 p.m. Friday, May 1, the Paxton Police Department responded to a call about a criminal trespass at the Paxton Moblie Home Park located at Weavers Court. Jason A. Battishill, a 37-year-old male from Paxton, was located at No. 14 Weavers Court, where he was taken into custody and transported to the Ford County Sheriff’s Office. At […]

Gibson City Pool Board meeting agenda for May 6, 2020

Pool Board AgendaMay 6th, 2020 5:30 pmVia Zoom Call Zoom InstructionsMark Ward is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Gibson City Pool Board MeetingTime: May 6, 2020 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting ID: 910 1445 2263Password: GCPB2020 Recognize Visitors Approve Minutes Reports– Financial– Manager Old Business– Pool Opening during the Covid-19 time […]

David Porter: Things you need to know and things you don’t

Sometimes, I think I should use this space to share useful information — impart knowledge, help people and make the world a smarter, better place. And someday, maybe I will. In preparation for a helpful, smart and beneficial report, I went looking for stuff people really need to know, not knowing any such stuff myself.  I immersed myself in social […]

Drive-in theaters may re-open – with precautions

From Illinois State Representative Tom Bennett: The modified stay-at-home executive order lifted some restrictions on businesses in Illinois, allowing at least some of our neighbors to get back to work, though much more needs to be done. One example of businesses allowed to resume is drive-in movie theaters, like the Harvest Moon Drive-in in Gibson City, run by Mike and […]

Letter to the editor: ‘We need to open our businesses’

As a Board member, and citizen of the County, I definitely think we need to open our businesses, right now, utilizing the Ford County Public Health guidelines, as outlined in our Local Health Department COVID-19 guidelines. We are past the point of the “cure being worse that the disease”, as many small businesses are unable to weather this extremely long […]

Ford County has 10 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19

From the Ford County Public Health Department: Ford County Public Health Department (FCPHD) is announcing one new case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The individual is a female in her 50’s. Ford County has a total of 10 confirmed cases, including one death. Two of the confirmed cases are associated withcongregate living facilities. These numbers are accurate as of the […]

Illinois reports 2,300 new COVID-19 cases, 46 additional deaths

Data shows hospitalizations, ventilator use declining By BEN ORNER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday reported 2,341 new cases of COVID-19 as Gov. JB Pritzker noted the state is making progress in multiple areas. Illinois’ total number of cases is now 63,840. The IDPH on Monday also reported 46 additional deaths – […]

How will we heal Illinois’ agri-food system?

Given the scale of this sector, Illinois must find the fortitude to overcome engrained barriers and self-interests to accelerate its future.By BOB EASTER, RICHARD GUEBERT JR. and THERESA E. MINTLE Illinois Agri-Food Alliance In the midst of a global health crisis, the agri-food sector is pressing forward determined to do what it does best—feed the world. After all, empty grocery […]

Ford County Board Finance Committee meeting agenda for May 7, 2020

FORD COUNTY BOARD SPECIFICATLYFINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDAMay 7, 20208:30 A.M. IN THE SHERIFF’S B0ARDROOM AT THE JAIL THE MEETING MAY BE ATTENDED REMOTELY BY USING THE CALL-IN NUMBER OFta66-a99-4679 AND THE ACCESS CODE lS 392-357-941. LIMIT OF ONLY FIVE PEOPLE IN THE SHERIFF’S BOARD ROOM AT ONE TIME. AGENDA APPROVAL REVIEW OF GENERAL FUND BILLS APPROVAL OF BILLS OLD BUSINESS NEW […]

Apex Clean Energy, Ford Ridge Wind create community grant fund

GIBSON CITY — Apex Clean Energy and the Ford Ridge Wind project announced the start of the Community Grant Program on Monday, May 4. Funds from the program will support organizations working in the areas of community development, environment, educatoin and health that benefit Ford County. “As we continue to live through the uncertainty that COVID-19 brings to communities across […]