With school right around the corner, law enforcement officials are gearing up for the busy back-to-school season. 

Piatt County Sheriff Mark Vogelzang explains that its School Resource Officers, or SROs, are gearing up to continue providing services to local schools for another two years. Those contracts were up at the end of the school year in May.

Sheriff Vogelzang says they are involved in school safety plans throughout Piatt County in and outside of school buildings. Traffic enforcement is important, especially early on, as pedestrians and drivers adjust to busier roads during arrival and dismissal times. 

Piatt County has a number of school districts that host students from neighboring counties. Sheriff Vogelzang indicates that they collaborate with area first responders when emergency planning and training to ensure a speedy response from all agencies necessary. 

The Sheriff reminds drivers around school buildings in the coming months to respect school zone speed limits and to keep a keen eye out for pedestrians. We'll have more with him on back to school later this month from the Hart Media Group.

Over the weekend, the City of Clinton's block-by-block program began work on its first home. 

Clinton City Administrator Tony Harris is applauding the program, which is volunteer-based, with a small sum of money contributed by the City of Clinton. Harris is hoping this can be the start of a community-wide effort to improve the exterior of the community's homes.

According to Harris, a residential TIF district would work just like a business TIF district. The difference being residents can tap into the funds for exterior home improvement projects.

Harris indicates a lot of interest has already been expressed in the small residential TIF district and believes a city-wide TIF district would garner a lot of interest.

Harris reminds, as property values go up because of improvements made through the TIF, the TIF grows and maintains itself over many years, allowing residents to be able to continue to tap into it.

It has been a wet start to August, and those rain chances are going to persist through this week.

That's according to Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln who told the Hart Media Group just about every day this week has chances for rain showers, even a marginal risk of severe weather.

Today (Monday) will be the warmest day of the week but with the humidity and high dew points, it is going to be somewhat uncomfortable over the next week.

Before the rains of last week and the first half of August so far, Illinois and part of the Midwest were headed towards flash drought conditions. While the rains of the last ten days have helped ease those concerns a bit, Shimon says we're not out of the woods yet.

As the Illinois State Fair gets set to open for 2026, we'll have an outlook for the ten days of the Fair later this week, as well as outreach the National Weather Service is doing in Springfield.

Get more in local weather forecasts and data at weather.gov/Lincoln.

Social Security is celebrating 91 years of existence in the United States of America this week.

Jack Myers with Social Security indicates Social Security taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937, with the first payments also starting in January 1937.

Social Security was originally only provided a retirement benefit to the primary worker. Myers points out a 1939 change added survivors benefits and benefits for the retiree’s spouse and children. Then in 1956, disability benefits were added. 

The first Social Security website was launched in 1994 and has been improving and evolving ever since. Myers points out, in 2001 they added the first version of the online claims application and have been accepting claims online for 25 years.

Myers hopes you'll create your own personal mySocialSecurity account by going to  www.ssa.gov/myaccount to create your account.

A vision of Clinton Mayor Helen Michelassi officially gets off the ground this weekend.

The first Clinton home to be taken up by the block-by-block program will be the focus of local volunteers. Mayor Michelassi indicates they will begin work on the first of three approved houses for the program this weekend.

Mayor Michelassi promoted this program during her campaign in March of 2025. She indicates it mirrors a similar successful program in Decatur.

Farmer City has been wading through red tape as they await permits from the Illinois Department of Transportation on the I-74 project. 

City Manager Halley Roberson says slow progress is being made on the project near I-74. She adds the big picture is constructing rental properties to help with the need for housing in DeWitt County. Plans could also include a strip mall or gas station. 

This project is another piece of ongoing economic development efforts happening not only in Farmer City but all throughout DeWitt County.

After a pretty wet week in central Illinois, scattered rain chances are going to persist for another week.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told the Hart Media Group this week's rain dropped up to three-quarters of an inch of rain in some places.

According to Shimon, chances of rain are going to persist this weekend, with it remaining pretty humid.

Next at the Hart Media Group, we'll hear from Shimon on those persistent rain chances through the week, the outlook for the ten days of the Illinois State Fair, the fall outlooks, and much more.

Visit weather.gov/Lincoln for all things local weather forecasts and data.

The Lincoln Police Department is gearing up for a busy August.

Lincoln Police Chief Joe Meister indicates the Railsplitter Festival this year is moving to the same weekend as the 'Balloons Over 66' event and 'Up in Smoke' BBQ competition on the square.

According to Chief Meister, the balloon launches for 'Balloons Over 66' always draws a big crowd. Last year was the first year for some changes in traffic on Lincoln's east side where a majority of watchers congregate.

Before the big weekend for the trio of events in town, students will be getting back to class. Chief Meister indicates there are a couple of areas where they see traffic patterns get congested.

Chief Meister encourages following the City of Lincoln and the Lincoln Police Department on Facebook for further information on the happenings for all the events in Lincoln during August.

The Illinois Back-to-School State Tax Holiday opens today and runs through August 16. It waives the state sales tax on back-to-school necessities. This 10-day period is expected to provide an estimated $10 million in savings to online and in-store consumers on essential back-to-school items, including clothing, footwear, and school supplies. During the tax holiday, the state will waive its 5% sales tax on qualifying purchases. Any applicable local sales tax will continue to apply. Rob Karr is President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

Qualifying clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item are eligible for the reduced tax rate. Examples of qualifying items include shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and other everyday clothing items. Qualifying school supplies, including items such as notebooks, folders, binders, pens, pencils, and calculators, are also eligible for the reduced tax rate. There is no price limit on qualifying school supplies.

This year’s Illinois State Fair theme is “Miles of Smiles” to commemorate historic Route 66’s centennial. State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark says if you’re visiting the state fair Aug. 13-23 be sure to make time for the Route 66 Experience.

The Illinois State Fairgrounds are the only state fairgrounds in the country that sit along historic Route 66.

Awareness is one of the most important efforts when it comes to helping those who struggle with mental health, alerting the public to the local resources that can help. 

Tony Kirkman with the Piatt County Mental Health Center explains that in October, the 708 board is bringing in the 'Hidden Threats Trailer', in partnership with the Illinois National Guard and Monticello Fire Department. It is an effort to inform parents of the warning signs of youth substance abuse or struggles with mental health. 

Farmers are an at-risk group that often go unseen when it comes to mental health issues. With many uncontrollable variables that can affect a farmer's livelihood, farmers often struggle with high stress levels. Kirkman says they need to encourage the farming community to seek out help when needed. 

Nearing the next fiscal year, Kirkman indicates the 708 Board will be looking for more services that residents can take advantage of. He points out, they recently refreshed the list of resources on the organization's website. 

Go to 708piatt.org or find the Piatt County 708 Board on Facebook to learn more about the resources offered and their latest initiatives.

The Clinton City Council will vote later this month to double compensation for City Commissioners.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Clinton City Administrator Tony Harris told the Hart Media Group this was a proposal he brought to the Council at the Tuesday night Clinton City Council meeting. The proposal would double the commissioners' salaries. 

According to Harris, this is an increase the City of Clinton can afford. He emphasizes this increase would be effective for the next fiscal year. 

The Council will take up the compensation increase proposal at its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Defensive driving and reducing driving distractions are also crucial for side-by-side operators. It’s something Illinois State Police Public Information Officer Ryan Wagand is promoting.

Wagand says UTV drivers should confirm specific county or municipal rules, as local ordinances can vary.

County fair season continues across Illinois. The Marion County Fair is this week, where Doug Telford is fair board president. He says margins are always narrow with county fairs, so state help is always important…..

Telford serves as a southern zone director on the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Board of Directors.

The annual Summer Reading Club at the Warner Library has wrapped up for the summer, and organizers say it was another great season. 

Mel Snow and Emily Dunham with the Library told the Hart Media Group that the program's closing event was a huge success. The Tater Tot's children's musical group and free pizza from Sorento's helped to make it a hit. 

Snow says reading logs must be turned in by the time the library closes at 7 PM this evening, and the grand prize winners will be drawn on Friday. She asks those who entered to be looking out for the phone call saying they won. 

The Summer Reading Club has had record participation the last four years, and while it is disappointing to break the streak this summer, Snow says they were only short around a hundred sign-ups - which is right in line with their goal. 

While the prizes and events are fun, Snow reminds that the program is all about avoiding the summer slide before returning to school. Learn more about the programs and events happening at the Warner Library at vwarner.org or by finding them on most social media platforms. 

The Logan County Fair is hitting the home stretch as we approach the weekend.

Logan County Fair Board member John Fulton told the Hart Media Group they've already had several great annual events that the community continues to turn out for.

According to Fulton, fairgoers are not going to want to miss a couple of great country performers that will highlight the grandstand lineup this weekend.

For tickets for this weekend's events, visit logancountyfair.com/grandstand.

The dog days of summer are here, and a local dietitian has some tips for making those frozen treats a little bit healthier. 

Monica Nyman with the St. Louis District Dairy Council explains that you can add things like protein powder, Greek yogurt, or ice with frozen fruit to your milkshakes to help cut down on the total amount of ice cream you're eating while introducing some healthier alternatives. 

July was Ice Cream Month, and Nyman indicates that this year they wanted to educate the public on the difference between a milkshake and a malt. They have the same ingredients, except for the powder that helps give a malt its rich consistency. 

We'll have more with Nyman in the weeks ahead on the back-to-school season. In the meantime, learn more about the St. Louis District Dairy Council at stldairycouncil.org.

A rash of water main issues in the 200 block of South Alexander Street in Clinton were addressed at the Tuesday night Clinton City Council meeting.

The issues were prominent during about a seven- to ten-day stretch in July, resulting in numerous boil orders. Commissioner John Wise indicates City crews will soon begin improvements to those concerned areas.

Commissioner Wise also addressed the persistent water main breaks along Alexander Street and a plan for fixing those issues going forward. 

According to Wise, contractors are scheduled to return by the end of the month to repair the insulation inside the city's new water tower. He notes adhesive issues caused the insulation to come loose over two years ago, but contractor delays held up the repair work.

The Council also heard a proposal from City Administrator Tony Harris to increase Council compensation, effective for the new Council that will be sworn in next spring. We'll hear from Harris on the WHOW Morning Show on Wednesday.

A lot of dirt has been moved this summer in Farmer City, and the mess is about ready to be cleaned up and moved out.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Farmer City Manager Halley Roberson told the Hart Media Group they've had a pair of projects going on different sides of the community. She indicates one of the benefits they found with their Washington Street sewer line project was they were able to move water mains for those residents closer to their homes. 

According to Roberson, they have been working all summer on extending the Plum Street intersection with Plum Street and 150. There was an interesting discovery during that project.

The Plum Street intersection expansion project was part of a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Roberson says it came in under budget, and the State of Illinois is allowing the City to hold onto the extra funds for its next big project.

Also during all the work in town, the City is awaiting approval of permits from the State of Illinois for its Interstate 74 project outside of town. Roberson indicates once they receive those, more dirt will continue to be moved for multi-family housing units as well as a small shopping center. 

A DeWitt County non-profit is preparing for expansion again, this time in eastern Illinois.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Neighborhood Care Center Director Cody Monkman told the Hart Media Group the Clinton-based non-profit was approached earlier this year by residents in Vermilion County about what they needed to begin a network branch based in Danville.

While many may see the Neighborhood Care Center, currently operating in Clinton and Heyworth, and wonder about expansion into a bigger area like Danville, Monkman believes it is less about the area of operation and more about utilizing the gifts of those in the community to become the best they can.

According to Monkman, the space the Neighborhood Care Center in Vermillion County will eventually operate out of will be smaller than the space they occupy in Clinton. He notes, though, it is less about the size of the space, but rather the size of the impact.

While the focus is small, Monkman admits the Network is in the midst of growing pains and is starting to expand its leadership roles because of all its growth in the last five years.

The Neighborhood Care Center's location in Vermillion County plans to be up and operating in the first part of 2027. Monkman indicates they will likely host a fundraiser in Vermillion County in the first quarter of 2027 as well.

This month, a local historical society is honoring America 250 by diving into the local history of the Underground Railroad. 

Director of the CH Moore Homestead, Joey Long, explains that on August 16th at 1:30 PM, they will be hosting "Joseph Rodney: Freedom Seeker on the Illinois Central Railroad," led by Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Darrel Dexter. 

As funding grows tighter for those who preserve local history, Long is grateful that the Illinois Road Scholars program is coming out to lead the program. She says they are one of five museums to benefit from the group this year. 

Long explains that the history of the underground railroad can be hard to track down, as it would have been dangerous for those at the time to leave anything behind that could have gotten them captured. That being said, there are traces that prove its presence in Clinton and DeWitt County. 

Hear the story of Joseph Rodney presented by Darrel Dexter at the CH Moore Homestead on Sunday, August 16th at 1:30 PM. Learn more by visiting chmoorehomestead.org or by finding them on Facebook.
 

The grocery co-op project in Farmer City continues its progress towards an opening on the Farmer City square this winter.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Curt Homann, Executive Director of the DeWitt County Development Council, or DCDC, told the Hart Media Group with five months before the end of 2026, there is still a lot to do to be ready for an opening by the first of 2027.

Homann admits the group gets frustrated by the slow nature of the process. He reminds, there is no government-backed entity supporting them - the effort is entirely grassroots.

Like the grocery co-op, Homann feels the DCDC has a lot of momentum as well and is looking forward to a strong finish to 2026. Follow the DCDC on Facebook for the latest happenings in development in DeWitt County. 

The Clinton Fire Department juggled multiple calls on Sunday evening. 

Just before 7 pm, crews were called to 56 Holiday Drive in Clinton for what they described as heavy fire conditions emitting from second-story windows. 

The homeowner indicated there were no individuals inside the home, nor were there pets. Crews utilized a nearby hydrant while also cutting a ventilation hole in the roof to support firefighters inside the home. 

On scene for the fire were crews from Kenney, Wapella, and Maroa Fire Departments. Waynesville Fire staffed the fire station. 

Also assisting at the scene were the Clinton Police Department and the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office. 

The fire is under investigation by the Illinois Fire Marshal's Office, though it is not considered suspicious. 

Before the fire incident, crews were on scene for a medical call at Goldwater Care at Park Lane. 

Photos courtesy of Clinton Fire Department Facebook 

The Peterson Insurance Agency in Clinton is inviting the community to an open house Tuesday afternoon on the square at its location in Clinton to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Owner Jay Peterson says while many consumers shop for policies online, working face-to-face with an independent, local agency ensures clients don't end up underinsured—offering direct, personalized service with a real person picking up the phone every time.

From auto, home, and commercial coverage to specialized lines like life, health, and Medicare supplements, Peterson highlighted crop and farm insurance as one of the agency's primary strengths. He noted that he and his staff hold specialized AFIS certifications, allowing them to carefully review client coverage and tailor policies to their exact needs.

Join the Peterson Insurance agency for a celebration of its 60th year on Tuesday from 10 am to 3 pm on the Clinton Square. Learn more about the Peterson Insurance agency by clicking their icon at dewittdailynews.com.
 

Illinois lawmakers are taking steps to regulate synthetic hemp-derived products while simultaneously relaxing operational rules for state-licensed cannabis dispensaries.

Tony Kirkman, Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center, explained that the General Assembly is working to close legal loopholes surrounding Delta-8 and Delta-10 products. The state is now moving to restrict these unregulated substances to keep them out of the hands of minors.

At the same time, new state rules are expanding retail options for licensed dispensaries, allowing extended operating hours up to 2:00 a.m., curbside pick-up, drive-thru service, and the ability to handle security in-house rather than outsourcing. Additionally, the legal possession limit for industrial hemp flower has doubled from 30 to 60 grams.

While the expanded dispensary rules aim to streamline business operations, Kirkman expressed concern over increased accessibility. He emphasizes the human brain’s prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until around age 25, making youth particularly vulnerable to substance use. 

For more information on youth substance prevention programs and mental health resources, contact the Piatt County Mental Health Center.