The 2021 Fall Trout Fishing Season kicked off Oct. 16 at 59 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. Of these many fishing locations, eight of them were recognized by FishingBooker, the world’s largest online service for finding and booking fishing trips, as top trout fishing spots.

FishingBooker boasts over 20,000 fishing experiences worldwide, ranging from Marlin fishing in the Maldives to trout fishing in Illinois, home to Kickapoo State Recreation Area, which ranks among the top honored fishing sites.

Located near Danville in Vermilion County, Kickapoo is a testament to the versatility of nature. In addition to its breathtaking scenery and trout fishing, Kickapoo offers boating, camping, trails and more. Canoes, bait, and bicycles are available to patrons to indulge in the many park activities.

National Dog Day is a day that celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed, and is meant to remind the public of the number of dogs that need to be rescued.

This national day was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist who wanted to show appreciation for all dogs and to honor those who work in the community to help save lives, keeping us safe and out of harm’s way.

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday with your furry friend. You can take them to the dog park to play with other dogs, buy them a new toy or take them to the dog spa for a day of relaxation. If you aren’t a dog owner, you can still celebrate by volunteering at your local shelter and taking some of the dogs on walks or assisting with cleaning the animal’s cages.

Consider ways you can help animals in our society and remember the importance of dogs in our lives.

Click here to find out how you can help dogs in Illinois.

In 2008, the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) launched the Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois campaign to provide pork products to food banks throughout Illinois.

Farmweld, a hog raising equipment manufacturer and strong supporter of both the Pork Power Program and IPPA, donated $1,000 to Pork Power to feed struggling families during the COVID-19 crisis. The company’s president, Frank Brummer, matched Farmweld’s contribution.

With face mask and shields running low across the state, local businesses and organizations are doing what they can to help first responders and health care workers in the Western Suburbs. In one example, the STEM-education company TinkRworks donated 100 3D-printed face shields to firefighters and paramedics at the Aurora Central Fire Station.

This month we celebrate Black History Month, a time to acknowledge the sacrifices of countless African Americans for all they’ve done to make this country a fairer place, as well as the many contributions they’ve made to American society.

Originally, Black History Month started out as Negro History Week, which was established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the second African American ever to receive a doctorate from Harvard. He chose the second week of February because it held the birthdays of two figures integral to the abolishment of slavery: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.