Volume 141 No. 26
Friday, June 5, 2015
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Illinois and Avian Influenza
A safe splash Share the fun, not the germs
Hoping the flu flies on by Illinois
By Zita Henneberry Shaw Media Service
By Zita Henneberry
ongoing project as well and one with its own set of strict guidelines. The first stage was when the state cleared all the saplings from the area. They also occasionally do controlled burns, which Heider said simulates a lightning caused prairie fire, and it’s the only authorized way to clear the preserve. There are additionally areas of peonies and irises planted long ago by families, which will eventually be removed from the preserve. While they are beautiful flowers, they are easily recognized as not belonging to the natural landscape. The state has also conducted
Editor’s note: The following story is the first in a multi-story series focusing on summer safety. Be careful in both tested and untested waters when making a splash this summer. “Every day, two children in the U.S. younger than 14 years old die from drowning,” said an Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) press release. According to the IDPH, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4 years old. IDPH advised parents, guardians or pool owners to be sure all entering the pools know how to swim and do so safely. Continuous and attentive supervision should always be a priority around large bodies of water. “Swimming is a great summertime activity,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “To make sure it doesn’t end in illness from swallowing germs in pool water, or injury from too many chemicals, IDPH has some basic prevention tips to help keep you safe and healthy when swimming. With National Healthy and Safe Swimming Week having come to a close, the Illinois Department of Public Health continues to encourage safe summer swimming habits. The “Make a Healthy Splash: Share the Fun, not the Germs” theme for 2015 focuses on the roles of both swimmers and pool attendants or operators in ensuring public health and safety this summer. The press release from the IDPH revealed from 2011 to 2012 there were almost 100 illness outbreaks nationally, which were linked to swimming. While chlorine and other disinfectants kill most germs within minutes, some can survive for days. “Pee, poop, sweat and dirt from swimmers’ bodies mix with chlorine and form chemicals that can make our eyes red and trigger asthma attacks,” said the press release. In order to prevent these mishaps, all swimmers are encouraged to maintain healthy hygiene. Swimmers should shower before swimming and take breaks from swimming every hour. During these breaks, it is advised everyone
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Safety Page 3
Shaw Media Service
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hoping the bird flu will fly by in Illinois. The department is warning Illinois residents to watch for signs of Avian Influenza. “A virus of this kind is always of great concern,” said Dr. Bob A. Smith, a large animal veterinarian in the Illinois Valley. “It’s of great economic importance because anytime you have a disease that’s capable of spreading very, very rapidly and causing a high morbidity and mortality, it becomes an economic situation because it increases the cost of production on a main meat source.” While Illinois has not yet been affected by this poultry infection, the virus has been identified in neighboring states. It has spread throughout Iowa and in parts of Minnesota, said Smith. He explained a very large number of Iowa birds have been euthanized or quarantined as a result of this disease. “As I understand it, it’s supposed to be mainly bird-to-bird transmissions, but a lot of those influenzas can have some mutations that occur. And just to err on the side of caution, I would try to not have people going from one farm to another until we know more about the mutations of this virus,” Smith said. The Avian Influenza, otherwise known as the bird flu, is currently a risk for chickens, turkeys, pheasants, fowl, quail, ducks and geese. The Illinois Department of Agriculture explained the virus circulates among birds worldwide. Smith said he does not consider himself to be an expert on the subject, but as a veterinarian, he approaches this outbreak just as any other viral infection. “The situation with viruses, especially the influenza virus, is the fact that they have a history of mutation. And the mutation is what is of great concern. Because if this virus starts mutating and changing, then who knows what animals could be effected by this.” The Illinois Department of Agriculture is asking owners of poultry operations to take preventative measures and
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Tonica News photos/Dave Cook
Barb Kessler, of the Mt. Palatine Cemetery Board, walks along the only path which is allowed to be cut into the nature preserve/historical cemetery to ease access. Footing can be uncertain because of uneven ground and holes which may or may not be entrances to animal dens.
A cemetery full of life Mt. Palatine Cemetery’s dual restoration projects By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
A historical cemetery isn’t the first thing to come to mind when thinking of something full of life, but that’s exactly what Mt. Palatine Cemetery is. It’s full of not only historical life, but prairie life as well. Sitting on top of a rise in what was once a sprawling prairie, the cemetery is moving toward becoming part of one of the last remnants of Illinois prairie wilderness. For the last several years it has been under the protection of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, which is working with the local Mt. Palatine Cemetery Board to restore the 1.5 acre nature preserve/historical cemetery. It is the only one of its kind in the area and one of only a few within the state. The board also has a contract with John Heider of Monticello’s R.I.P. Ltd. (Restoration In Progress), to locate and restore lost grave markers. “We have more burials than markers, so we know there are more waiting to be discovered,” said Barbara Kessler, member of the cemetery board, There are currently 25 new discoveries, marked by red flags, waiting to be restored to their proper places among the tall prairie grasses and visible wildlife.
A red-winged blackbird, just one of the many species of wildlife calling the Mt. Palatine nature preserve home, sits on top of a restored marker within the cemetery. When cleaning the stones, Heider said while he does have a special cleaner designed for marble, it’s water and sunlight which work best. “We work with Mother Nature and she does a wonderful job,” said Heider. “It’s hard, physical work, but it’s a labor of love for everyone involved,” said Kessler. The cemetery board has also received donations through the Putnam County Historical Society in order to help with the restoration of the markers. Worn engraving on the stones is not allowed to be changed in any way, as it is “changing history,” said Heider. The nature restoration is an
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