Volume 141 No. 27
Friday, June 12, 2015
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Here’s the buzz
First West Nile positive mosquito reported in Illinois By Terri Simon
tsimon@tonicanews.com
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced the first West Nile virus-positive mosquito batch has been reported in Illinois this year. On May 26, employees of the St. Clair County Health Department collected a positive mosquito batch in O’Fallon, which is roughly 20 miles east of St. Louis, Mo. “West Nile virus activity is largely dependent on the weather, and with the increased temperatures we’ve been seeing in Southern Illinois, mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are becoming active,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD. “We want to remind people not to be complacent. Take precautions to protect yourself by
wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home.” According to a press release from the IDPH, surveillance for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests on mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, as well as testing sick horses and humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms. People who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing. Locally, Jenny Barrie, health educator at the LaSalle County Health Department in Ottawa, said the department has already sent in five dead birds to the Illinois
West Nile Page 2
Sump pump troubles Lostant Village Board worried about sewer system overload By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
LOSTANT — The recent downpour may be more than Lostant bargained for. “We’re getting too much water when it rains, so people are obviously putting their sump pumps into the sewer system. So the question becomes, how do we rectify this?” asked Jack Immel, Lostant’s health and safety officer. The board discussed the serious problem of overloading the town’s system with water from people’s sump pumps. “There is way too much water in the sewer system for what it can handle,” said Mitch McCaw, the public works supervisor. Vol. 141 No. 27 One Section - 8 Pages
© The Tonica News
According to McCaw, since the system is meant to be a closed one, the only water coming out to the water treatment plant should be the same amount pulled from the water tower. However, the board revealed the amount of water at the plant has been much greater than the amount taken from the tower. “Sump pumps are not to be hooked up with the sewer system. We’re having problems; this will cost the town a tremendous amount of money in the long run, and if you are hooked up to the sewer system, you need to get if off now,” said Immel. The board agreed, while they do not wish to travel
Lostant Page 2
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Ending the year in the sun Lostant Elementary students played an exciting game of dodgeball during their field day on June 2. Students and teachers enjoyed the beautiful weather and all were looking forward to an upcoming summer of fun.
Don’t let the scale rise along with the mercury The importance of avoiding summer weight gain By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
With school out and children having a summer full of unstructured days before their next school year, it’s important to remember to stay active and eat healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite the various benefits, many children and adolescents don’t participate in the recommended 60 minutes a day of physical activity. Participation in physical activity also declines as young people age. In 2013, 15 percent of high school students hadn’t participated in 60 minutes of any kind of
physical activity in the week before the study, according to information on the CDC website. Children who are already overweight often show a greater pattern of weight gain in summer, largely because there’s less access to recreation facilities, programs, healthy meals and a healthy environment. Without a structured day, it’s easy to sleep in, get bored and for kids to find themselves feeling less than energetic, spending the day moving from the television to computer to video games and eating and drinking more unhealthy food than they normally would. With the rising temperatures of sum-
mer, many choose to quench their thirst with soda throughout the day, drinking much more than they do during the cooler times of year. Over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese, according to the CDC website. Sixty minutes of daily physical activity which, over the course of a week, includes muscle building, bone strengthening and aerobic exercise, reduces the risk of obesity, asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes, bone and joint problems and multiple other health problems, according to the President’s Challenge website. It also increases self-esteem, reduces anxiety and depression and
promotes psychological well-being and helps academic achievement, concentration and attentiveness, information on the website states. Many children choose to play organized sports such as baseball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, martial arts and gymnastics, but there are also many options available which don’t require a sporting league or membership to a gym. Playing on playground equipment, skateboarding, yoga, dancing, swimming, walking the dog, helping with yard or housework (Doesn’t the garage need cleaning?) or going for a nice, long walk in the evening are all things which will help keep children and the rest of the family in shape and in good health for the next school year that will be here before you know it.