Since opening its doors in January 2024, Willow Breeze Hospice House has offered a beautiful home-like atmosphere where skilled nurses help make patients’ last days as comfortable as possible, while also offering amenities for their families. This year’s net proceeds of $32,000 from Hospice Binga support a Hospice House Endowment to help those with limited resources pay for their stay. Most insurances will cover hospice care, but not room and board.
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Bethany Fire ‘Open House’ a blast
•October 8, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Saturday, October 4th Bethany Fire held an Open house at the Fire Station, scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., open to all. Just over an hour and a half into the event, duty called and a fire call came in, with firefighters at the station dispatched to respond. Scheduled for the open house were the following events: free hot dog lunch, bounce house, firehouse tour, truck and ambulance tour, ‘Smoke House’ tour, obstacle course, gear photobooth, fire extinguisher demonstration, and a turnout gear race. Before the call came in, many of the activities were in full swing and greatly enjoyed by those in attendance. Hot dogs all around for everyone, a fun and impressive timed obstacle course for the children in attendance that they could not get enough of, with many making multiple passes through.
Read MoreCorn dogs: Are yours safe?
•October 8, 2025•
by DM Williamee
This week, Foster Farms is recalling a staggering 3.8 million pounds of chicken corn dog products (as well as turkey products) after wood was found in the batter, resulting in reported injuries. The chicken corn dog products were manufactured between July 30th, 2024, and August 4th, 2025, and sold under numerous brand names throughout the United States. Some of those brand names are ‘Chicken Corn Dogs’, ‘Batter Wrapped Chicken Frankfurters on a Stick’, and ‘Corn Dogs Chicken Franks Dipped in Honey Batter’.
Read MoreFire Prevention Week
•October 8, 2025•
During Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the American Red Cross of Illinois reminds everyone of the dangers of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.
“Home fires can occur any time, any place,” said Kellie O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross of Illinois. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. This is critical because fire experts say you may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late.”
Tips for creating your home fire escape plan and practicing your 2-minute drill:
Read MoreLife Chain prayer service held Sunday
•October 8, 2025•
by DM Williamee
On Sunday, October 5th a peaceful, silent ‘Life Chain’ prayer demonstration was held in Sullivan at the intersection of Jackson and Hamilton streets. Per their literature: “A Life Chain is a prayer service.” And “As we join hundreds of thousands of fellow Americans and Canadians in prayer, let us trust wholly in our Lord and not in ourselves or our numbers.” The Prayer Chain is their standing in obedience to Chronicles 7:14. Some passerby’s honked as they passed through the intersection; some in support and some not as supportive, but those praying were not dissuaded and remained focused on their objective, staying focused on their objectives to be bold yet humble, remain in the spirit of Christian love, and acknowledging motorists with kindness.
Photo by DM Williamee
Get Covered Illinois website launched, questions linger
•October 8, 2025•
by DM Williamee
For those who currently utilize the Healthcare marketplace for their health, medical, and dental insurance needs, “Get Covered Illinois” (GCI) is the replacement for that program beginning in 2026. Enrollment begins November 1st. States and the federal government jointly pay for Medicaid, which offers free or nearly free health care coverage for roughly 80 million poor and disabled Americans, as well as children at a cost of $800 billion in 2023. “At a time when the federal government is announcing healthcare cuts, Illinois is investing in building a marketplace that aims to increase access to health coverage for our residents,” said Illinois Department of Insurance Director Anne Gillespie. The GCI website is live right now, though specific information can be difficult to find. https://getcovered.illinois.gov/.
Read MoreRemembering Who We Are………..80
True North
•October 8, 2025•
by Janet Roney
When I was a child, on clear, cloudless nights, my father and I often went on walks to see the stars. It was before farms had all-night security lights, so it was dark as pitch down below, but above us, the magnificent, infinite canopy of the sparkling Milky Way filled the heavens. How beautiful! How amazing! How humbling!
To the south, there was Orion, the hunter, followed by his two dogs, Canis Major and Minor. Almost above us were the Pleiades, the seven sisters, riding on the shoulder of Taurus the Bull. In the north was the Big Dipper pointing to the Little Dipper and the North Star, the most important star for travelers to find their true path since the beginning of human history.
Read MoreETML happenings for October
•October 8, 2025•
Story times: Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., October 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. The bounce house will be available after the story and craft.
Every Monday at 9:00 a.m. ETML hosts Memory Café, a social gathering for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Get helpful information and support from others who also have loved ones who struggle with memory loss.
Read MoreLetters to the Editor 10-8-2025
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor,
I applaud our City Council and our mayor for trying to deal with unhappy folks. I have always said, “Different strokes for different folks.” This holds true in life.
People, please use good judgment when it has to do with animals. They are a good choice if you love them.
Read MoreIDoA to honor long-term care residents: Residents’ Rights Month
•October 8, 2025•
Joining advocates, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, facility staff, and others across the country, the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) will honor the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Month this October. Designated by the National Consumer Voice for Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice), Residents’ Rights Month highlights residents living in all long-term care settings, as well as gives special recognition to the work of the individuals who help assure their dignity, privacy, and other basic human rights are maintained. “The Older Americans Act mandates the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program inform residents of their rights,” said Kelly Richards, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. “This is something we do all year long. However, the designation of October as Residents’ Rights Month allows us to shine a larger spotlight and highlight the rights of residents in long-term care facilities. I hope you will join me this month by taking time to reach out to someone in a long-term care facility.”
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