(Springfield-jm) – As NFL football season returns so does fantasy football and Illinoisans are playing it at an average of 2,268 monthly searches for 100,000 residents, which is the 9th highest in the nation, Minnesota finished first.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Deer hunting season is fast approaching and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding about tree stand safety. During the 2022 hunting season, there were 10 hunting incidents involving tree stands. Spokesperson Hannah Brewer says in all 10 of those incidents not a single person was wearing a fall arrest system…

 

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Hannah Brewer. Brewer says they also recommend using a lifeline or safety rope to help hunters going up and down from the stand.

 

(Undated-jm) – Emergency crews around Ford County were busy Tuesday evening. Just before 5:30 pm Roberts Melvin firefighters were called to a single vehicle rollover accident on 900 east between 1200 and 1400 north. Then around 7pm Paxton firefighters were called to a single vehicle rollover on 500 east 1600 north. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  The downtown area of Paxton continues to get upgrades with the brick and mortar businesses in the area. A new business in the Cadillac to the renovation of the former bowling alley property near the post office and a new sound system for the downtown area are a few new positives for the city.

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold provides the latest for the city…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Gibson City-jm) –  The Ford County Public Health Department will be holding a drug takeback day this Friday. The takeback day will take place from 12-2 at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City. It’s part of September’s National Recovery Month. Free NARCAN kits will also be available. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  A pop up pumpkin patch is coming to downtown Paxton. The Paxton Main Street Group is placing the patch in the former bowling alley property that is being renovated, says Paxton Main Street Group spokesperson Donna Pepper…

 

 

Paxton Main Street Group Spokesperson Donna Pepper. They are also set to bring a fall vendor and pumpkin event to the city on Saturday October 14th. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Hardware and Rental. Owner Scott Allen says this time of year is perfect for a lawn grass project…

 

 

Owner Scott Allen also says they have close out sale prices on some paint lines…

 

 

Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Monday kicked off National Child Passenger Safety Week and the Illinois Department of Transportation is urging parents to double check that their safety seats are properly installed. The state will also be doing seat check events throughout Illinois this week.

 

(Springfield-jm) – This week is also Railroad Safety Week in Illinois. Canadian National Railroad Inspector Charlie Mathewson has some safety tips around railroads…

 

 

Canadian National Railroad Inspector Charlie Mathewson.

 

(Savoy-jm) – Willard Airport officials are pushing back against a proposal that would see operational control of the airport transfer from the University of Illinois to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. The suggestion was made during a regular MTD board meeting last month. Trustee Bruce Hannon introduced the idea, saying the University of Illinois isn’t running the airport as a transportation service would, and he wants to see Willard become the community staple he said it once was. MTD wants more people to fly out of Willard instead of going to Indianapolis or Chicago, and they believe if they were to operate it, they could make it happen. Airport officials say they were caught off guard by the comments and don’t plan on changing ownership.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – Harvest season is starting to get underway around central Illinois. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City has these safety tips…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Undergraduate student enrollment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus has broken records this year, with 8,325 freshman admitted this year. Three out of 4 of the incoming freshmen, or 6,150, are from Illinois households. This year’s U of I freshmen come from 88 out of Illinois’ 102 counties. Minority representation in this year’s freshman class has increased or stayed steady over last year. Around 1,251 freshmen self-identify as Hispanic, up from 1,066 in 2022. Around 449 self-identify as African American, up slightly from 444 in 2022. And 348 self-identify as multi-race.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  The first event at The Cadillac in downtown Paxton is coming soon. The Cadillac event center is set to open on September 29th says The Cadillac spokesperson Alan Meyer…

 

 

The Cadillac in Paxton Spokesperson Alan Meyer. The first Gina Miles concert set for Saturday October 28th sold out very quickly and organizers have offered a second concert for Sunday October 29th. Both performances will be live at The Cadillac in downtown Paxton.  Tickets available on line,

 

 

WPXN News Notes this week…

 

Kankakee Community College will host a Fall Job Fair on Thursday from 9 a.m. - noon in the KCC College Center.

 

The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a flu clinic on Thursday from 2-4 pm at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City.