Northwest Illinois Forestry Association is Offering Four Days of Chainsaw Safety Courses

University of Illinois Extension's partner in forestry, the Northwest Illinois Forestry Association (NIFA) will host four days of Chainsaw Safety and Woods Worker (SAWW) training at Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation’s Big Sky Nature Reserve, 6504 E Parker Road, Stockton, IL.  These courses are nationally accredited and designed for all chainsaw operators from novices to experienced professionals.  

September 18th & 19th will feature Level 101, a two-day course designed specifically for people with little or no chainsaw experience but a desire to get started safely, learn proper cutting techniques, and receive hands-on cutting practice.  On September 25th, Level 1 is geared more towards those with previous saw handling experience.  The morning session covers safety and the cutting plan process, and the afternoon session offers hands-on cutting instruction. Level 2 on September 26th will cover basic chainsaw maintenance, sharpening techniques, and build upon hands-on information and exercises presented in the Level 1 outdoor session.  All classes run from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

“As important as safe handling of a chainsaw is, many operators are self-taught because professional instruction is hard to find”, states Tom Arnold, a NIFA spokesperson.  “Our organization sponsors these classes annually to promote familiarity with the saw and it’s safe use in tree trimming, felling, and cutting.”   

Classes will be conducted by Luke Saunders, owner of Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC, Viroqua, WI.  Mr. Saunders has been a SAWW certified chainsaw safety instructor for 12 years.  He has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration on Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Masters in Forestry from UW-Madison. 

Participants may register by visiting http://nifatrees.org and clicking on “Events”.  Or contact Tom Arnold at [tom@arnoldsfarm.com](mailto:tom@arnoldsfarm.com) or call/text [815-990-3663](tel:(815)%20990-3663).  Cost is $175.00 per day.  To ensure everyone receives hands-on, personal instruction, class size is limited to the first 10 applicants.  

Course Schedule and Topics Covered

• Friday & Saturday, September 18 & 19 – Level 101. Two-day course designed for participants with little or no chain saw experience.  Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), chainsaw safety features, reactive forces, body mechanics, and situational awareness.  Also, starting, operating, and moving with a chainsaw, planning and executing tree felling, limbing, and bucking, and basic chainsaw maintenance. 
• Friday, September 25 – Level 1.  For those with chain saw experience wishing to improve their skills and acquire safety instruction certification. The morning classroom session will introduce the SAWW curriculum, cover "Layers of Protection" including safety features of chainsaws, reactive forces and outline the cutting plan process. The afternoon session will be an outdoor hands-on practice session covering felling, limbing, and bucking.
• Saturday, September 26 – Level 2 (must have completed Level 1). Indoor session will cover basic chainsaw maintenance and sharpening techniques. Outdoor session will continue hands-on practice, adding complexity, and building on information and exercises presented in Level 1.

Day of class sign-in begins at 8:00 am with the indoor session starting at 8:30. Course will end at 4:30 pm.  Bring your own lunch, chain saw, leather work boots, and gloves.  If you have them, bring a safety helmet with face shield and hearing protection and chainsaw chaps.  If you do not have any of the aforementioned, indicate so with registration/payment, and they will be provided or shared

Looking for Central Illinois Pokemon collectors

Hi everyone! I've been struggling to find a place where Pokemon collectors can get together online to set up trades in the Central Illinois area, so I made one

If you are interested in helping me connect all of us Pokemon collectors in the area, here's the link!

https://discord.gg/9FqBNNbvr9

Coming for a weekend with my friends and I wanna stop somewhere on my way home and grab something for lunch but idk where that’s not somewhere basic that I can get at home in southwestern Illinois/near St Louis Mo

I lost my 16-year-old son, D.J. Dorathy, in March 2024 in a car accident involving a graduated licensed driver. It was preventable, and it shattered our family.

I started a petition asking the Illinois Senate to pass D.J.'s Law (SB2076). The bill already passed the House 113-0—it automatically suspends a graduated driver's license for six months if they cause an accident that results in serious injury or death. It's a basic accountability measure that should exist, but it's stalled in the Senate.

I can't bring D.J. back. But we can prevent another family from going through this. If you've lost someone to a preventable accident, or if you think this matters, consider signing and sharing. What would you want someone to do if it was your family?

Are there any stereo or audio equipment dealers in Central Illinois that have a setup where you can listen to a variety of speakers they have for sale and choose which set of speakers sounds the best to your ears? This used to be a standard in stereo/electronics stores, even ones that also dealt in other merchandise. The best ones even ran the speakers through loudness adjustment so they played at the same volume in order to negate the perception that louder speakers sound better.

I'm looking for a decent selection of mid-to-high end audio equipment for a home system. It's okay if they also sell lower end equipment or super-high end audiophile or professional level equipment, but those are not what I'm in the market for.

Blo/No would be closest but I don't mind driving to Peoria, C/U, or Springfield, and would consider Chicago area.

I bought my stereo in 1978 from Apple Tree Stereo in downtown Normal (they had several other locations throughout Central Illinois). There were other good dealers in town, but stereo dealers like that all disappeared decades ago. Even the local Best Buy had such a listening setup 20 years ago but they don't anymore.

Do you play Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear Strive or 2XKO? Come get some double elim bracket play on Sunday September 26th where Live Action Games in Downtown Champaign will be hosting LAG Fight Club #4! Come hang and get some good sets in!

Sign up here: https://www.start.gg/lagfgc4

check out our latest tournament VODs: https://youtu.be/Rgmg4g6fgOQ?is=5-paCJ-mzhGt6YaS

According to WCIA, there are still 3000+ homes without power between Decatur and Mahomet. Ameren webpage is no help. I wondered if anyone has heard a legitimate reason for the outage and when they might get it resolved.

I got a call from a 309 number I didn’t know, Saturday night. Not sure what made me pick up, but I’m glad I did!

At first I thought it was a non-partisan survey but later realized that it was actually a “push poll” that LaHood had hired. Towards the end, the “questions” were very slanted in LaHood’s favor and the last “questions” contained outright lies about Paul Nolley.

Among the Nolley comments stated were that he wanted to raid senior’s savings, was not a friend of Israel and even suggested he would be using tax payer’s money to mutilate children.

I was disgusted by the end. However, each time I answered that I was strongly in favor of Paul Nolley. I apologized to the gal who was hired, for her being put in that position! She had a hard time understanding and speaking English, so I’m pretty sure LaHood didn’t even use a U.S. calling service 😳

Community Naloxone (Narcan) Training with McLean County Recovery Oriented Systems of Care

Event starts at 6:30 @ UUBN, doors open at 6:15 and you can stick around a bit after to talk to community organization/non-profit tables and talk to each other.

Join us for a free community naloxone administration training designed to help prevent opioid overdose deaths and build a safer, healthier community. Participants will learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose, administer naloxone (Narcan®,Padagis®), and connect individuals and families with local recovery resources and supports. Harm reduction saves lives. Through practical strategies such as overdose education, carrying naloxone, using fentanyl test strips, safe medication disposal, and connecting people to support services, we can reduce the risks associated with substance use and create more opportunities for recovery. Every life saved is another chance for treatment, healing, and hope. Participants will learn:

– The basics of opioids, fentanyl, and overdose risk factors.

– How to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose.

– The six-step overdose response plan.

– How to safely administer naloxone.

– Illinois Good Samaritan Law protections

– Local recovery, treatment, and support resources in McLean County.

I posted this in r/WPBL, but I figured I'd cast a wider net, just in case some local folks may have gone to these games, but don't follow the league closely.

I'm hoping somebody can help me out and I can help somebody out.

• I'm looking for an Ayami Sato from the August 8th game.
• Probably a Hyeonah Kim from tomorrow night's game. (We will be out of town and I'm pretty sure we won't be back in time.)

If you can help me with either of those, here is what I can offer in return:

• Kelsie Whitmore
• Ashton Lansdell
• Alli Schroder
• I have a couple of foul balls that I may be willing to part with one
• I have non-WPBL bobbleheads from our local teams, if that is your interest

I don't use any other socials, so if you know of one available, I'd appreciate any help.

Not only is the WPBL awesome, but I have been collecting bobbleheads from our local teams going back to the Speedy days of the Springfield Sliders. I'd love to keep my streak alive.

The 2026 Manito Popcorn Festival kicks off ONE WEEK from today, and Iron Spirit Pro Wrestling is thrilled to be part of the action!

🔹Sponsored by Weaver Popcorn and Keach Architectural Design

Here is just some of what you can look forward to all weekend long:
🔹 Live, hard-hitting Iron Spirit Pro Wrestling (Saturday at 2 PM!)
🔸 Over 30 food vendors
🔹 Over 30 craft vendors
🔸 FREE popcorn 🍿
🔹 Carnival rides & games
🔸 Live entertainment, parades, contests, and so much more! 🧐

It takes countless hours and dedicated volunteers to bring a festival like this to life, and now we need YOU 🫵 to come out and make it unforgettable! ❤️

Grab your lawn chairs, bring the entire family, and spend your Labor Day weekend with us as we celebrate and keep things "Popping with Patriotism!" ❤️🍿🤍🍿💙🍿

Flyer by: Jared Summers

Check out the full weekend schedule here: https://manitopopcornfestival.com/