Afternoon News Update: Friday August 8
- The Rockford Park District is dedicating and opening a new facility today. The West Rock Wake Park dedication ceremony will take place today at 4:30pm with pro wakeboard demonstrations and entertainment by local musicians. The event takes place at Levings lake, for more information visit the Rockford Park District’s website.
- Locals volunteers gathered for cleanup effort of a local park in the Stateline community of Rockton, that has been covered in trash for months. Volunteers carried clean-up supplies along the Rock River. The Stateline volunteers are part of the Hoo Haven wildlife group and officials say that this part of the river at the Mill Race was covered in garbage for weeks ago, and the debris was threatening Stateline wild life.
- Governor Pat Quinn officially kicked off the 2014 Illinois State Fair today. The annual family-friendly agricultural showcase brings families and officials from across the state. Quinn says the state fair is an important part of the Illinois economy. Quinn helped other officials cut the ribbon to open the fair the fair runs through August 17th.
- The Illinois Fire Marshal will be in attendance at the State Fair this week to highlight fire safety demonstrations to engage families. The office is extending an invitation to families to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in fire prevention safety. The Fair runs from August 7 to August 17 in Springfield.
- Authorities have arrested a man at Midway Airport in Chicago after finding a handgun in his carry-on luggage. The man is 62 and was headed to Alabama but officials haven't released his name. The TSA says it has seized five weapons at Midway this year.
- Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre believes that it's unfortunate the way things ended in Green Bay, but that he's proud of his 16 years with the Packers. Favre was interviewed this morning and talked about his departure from Green Bay six years ago and the recent efforts to mend the bad break from the Packers. Favre will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and have his number retired next season.
- Health officials are reminding Illinois parents about required vaccinations and eye exams for school children. Illinois requires students enrolling in school to be up-to-date on immunizations. Students enrolling in kindergarten for the first time must have an eye exam by a licensed optometrist or a medical doctor.
- Wisconsin wildlife officials have created a smartphone application that allows users to access guides to state parks, forests and trails, and track each other as they use the properties. The apps offer descriptions of each parks, forest and trails and it includes a GPS mapping feature.
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