(upbeat music) - [Woman] Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory have been serving Quad City families and veterans since 1889.

Wheelan-Pressly Funeral home are located in Rock Island, Milan, and Reynolds, and are proud supporters of WQPT.

- [Man] At IHMVCU, we've always been here for you.

You are, and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial and physical health.

And we are here.

IHMVCU is a proud supporter of WQPT.

- [Woman] Alternatives is a proud supporter of WQPT and has been serving our community for 40 years.

Alternatives provides professional guidance to maintain independence and quality of life for older adults and adults with disabilities.

- With COVID waning, what are public health workers most concerned about right now?

And making sure the military feels that they're welcome at the university.

In the cities.

(upbeat music) We are seeing a small uptick in reported COVID cases in metropolitan areas in the US, that includes Chicago.

Though Chicago health officials say it's not a cause for alarm., it is important to know with COVID is still with us, especially as kids and families make spring break plans.

Public health workers can't be blamed for remaining alert, especially after seeing past surges develop.

So we talked with the Chief Operating Officer of the Rock Island County Health Department, Janet Hill.

Let's talk about what's going on with COVID first of all, before we can move on to the other topics.

We've seen the case numbers really fall significantly.

What does that say for you right now as kids are heading into spring break?

- No, we're very happy to see much lower rates.

We've had 30 cases this week, our positivity rate is 0.79.

You may remember just a few months ago it was 31%.

So we're in a very different part of the pandemic.

And we are hopeful that another surge will not happen, but we're prepared if it does.

- Well, and you talk about another possibility of another surge.

I mean, you always think, okay, so many people more than 60% of Scott County, I know that your numbers are not as good as being vaccinated.

I mean, that really seems to have been kind of your first defense right now, that as well as you know, social distancing, masking and washing your hands.

- That's right.

At the beginning of the pandemic we did not have all of the tools to fight it.

Now we have two extremely effective vaccines and one that's a little bit less effective and the Johnson and Johnson.

And yet our vaccination rate is still 62% for people five and older.

It's been ticking up about a 10th of a percent every couple of days, but that means that 38% of people are still putting their personal health, their family's health and health of their community at risk.

- What about these boosters we keep hearing about?

'Cause a lot of people had one booster.

Now there's a recommendation for a second booster.

People might be getting tired of being punctured.

- That's right.

So right now fourth doses of the mRNA, which is Pfizer and Moderna have been authorized for those 50 and older and those 12 and an older who are immunocompromised.

You don't have to have that fourth booster.

Right now the CDC says that the up to date metric is still the three total doses.

And you know, but if people wanna come in, we're here to help them.

- We have seen in the past these surges start creeping up, particularly in the early summer.

I always think about the 4th of July the last two years.

I know you don't have a crystal ball, but I mean, you must be thinking, the worst has to be over by now.

- You know, we certainly hope so.

Omicron and Omicron variant are highly infectious, much more than Delta, which was much more infectious than the earlier strains.

We do know that people who are vaccinated, if they get sick, their symptoms are very mild.

Maybe even mimicking a mild cold or allergies.

And you know, now we're heading into allergy season, and we want people to understand that a mild infection could look like an allergy symptom.

So to be safe, they should get tested.

And then if they are positive, they should stay isolated for five days and then continue to wear a mask for five more days.

- Well, you have studied infectious diseases far longer than COVID-19's been around.

Let's be honest about that.

Is this the usual way that a virus does permeate in society is because it becomes one thing and then it kind of mutate into these other things.

And it seems like they're becoming more infectious, but less dangerous.

- You know, I'm not a trained epidemiologist.

However, I have a basic understanding that this is the general path that they do become more infectious and that's seen as a good thing because more people develop an immunity to it, between vaccination and natural immunity.

- What do you say to those families that want to go out on a spring break?

Or those kids that are gonna be congregating down south where it's much warmer than it is right here?

I mean, there's always that concern that you get these large groups of people that believe that they're gonna be just fine and then they can bring it back.

I mean, that's what we've learned the last two years, but with so many people now having been vaccinated, you wonder if it's gonna have that big of an impact.

- You know, vaccination is a really good protection against illness.

I think that people who are fully vaccinated and up to date can start to do things that they've been missing over the last few years.

I think it's really important to watch their body after they get back from these mass gatherings.

And if they feel like they are starting to feel a little bit sick, your best bet is to get a test that will protect not only you, but people around you.

And just remember that no one younger than five can get vaccinated.

So we have to treat COVID like we do the measles.

And we have a social contract in our society that we are gonna protect the youngest people in our community who cannot get vaccinated.

And I think that's what we need to do with COVID, you take care of your personal responsibility, and that includes vaccination and staying on top of symptoms if you feel ill. - This week, public health officials in some of the largest cities in America, Chicago included, said that there was an uptick in COVID cases that they're seeing, but it wasn't really a concern right now.

It could be an aberration or it might not amount to much of anything else.

Have you heard that and does it seem like a lot of times these...

If you ever have some kind of an outbreak, it seems to start more in an urban area and then it starts filtering down to less metropolitan areas.

- No, that's what we've seen throughout the pandemic.

I mean, think way back where it started in New York and then Chicago, and really started to surge in our larger cities first.

At this point, even a small surge is much more easy to handle because our hospital systems are not overwhelmed.

As of today, we have one person with COVID-19 in our Quad City, or excuse me, our Rock Island County hospitals.

So at this point we can handle a few case.

Think back a couple of months though, when our hospital systems were completely overwhelmed and near a breaking point.

And that's what we're worried about is the appropriate use of healthcare resources.

And getting vaccinated will help keep our healthcare systems functioning well.

- You're looking back now, I'm sure.

And there's gonna be times for you to study the response of public health, as well as the hospital systems.

And to be perfectly honest, the politicians, and the general public.

Has any of those discussions started about, look what we did, look what we accomplished, look what we should have done.

- No, we're starting to look at that.

As a country we do a great job of paying for things that we can't see, but we do a horrible job of putting money toward prevention.

Public health is prevention.

We prevent outbreaks.

So if there's not an outbreak, there's nothing to see.

In the last 15 years, the Rock Island County Health Department has lost about half of our workforce, and we must properly invest in public health.

Until you saw us vaccinating much of the country, we did our work very quietly.

We inspect restaurants quietly, we issue well permits.

We give childhood immunizations quietly.

We serve one WIC mom very quietly.

We no longer can be quiet.

The future of the health of our communities are at stake.

- And let's talk about that specifically in Rock Island County, because to be honest, you don't have people coming in and out of the doors of the health department on a regular basis because of COVID restrictions and limitations.

What about those clinics that you do offer?

When do you think you gonna get to a complete normalcy inside your building?

- Yeah, we are talking about opening up our maternal child health clinics in July.

We have been under a federal waiver, where we have not been seeing our WIC clients since March of 2020.

And we know that our families do better when we lay eyes on our kids.

We are a second layer of healthcare.

The initial well child screenings at their medical provider's office are critically important, but we are also are helping keep these children as safe as possible.

You may not be able to get into your doctor's office, but you can get into your WIC clinic.

And you know, if you have a rash that's troubling, we have nurses here who can look at it and say, that really isn't something to worry about.

So we really want to get our kids back.

We know that it's good public health when we lay eyes on our clients.

- What do you think the impact has been over the last two years that there hasn't been this constant attention?

- You know, we are seeing more maternal child poor outcomes.

We're seeing more maternal depression screenings with a higher number.

And we know our moms are struggling, both prenatally and postpartum.

We're doing more referrals to mental health.

And with kids, we're seeing troubling delays in routine vaccinations.

Families put off those well child visits earlier in the pandemic and they are catching up.

Some people are thinking that maybe they're not gonna get their child vaccinated at all.

And that is extremely concerning to us.

It's a very scary trend.

Thanks to decades along vaccination programs, 14 serious vaccine preventable childhood illnesses have been eliminated in the United States, but we're starting to see more outbreaks across the country.

Not vaccinating kids against these severe childhood diseases threatens their health.

And if you wanna see how effective childhood vaccines are, take a look at the older section of cemeteries and see how many babies and young children are buried there.

Vaccines really do save lives.

- Let's talk though about the fact that you take a look and you think COVID's done.

Okay, we can move on, there's a period at the end of the sentence.

But in a way like you're saying, there are other health factors that remain.

Some people have deep respiratory problems that they are continuing to have.

Some people did put off medical procedures that may have worsened whatever condition they have in the months ahead.

I mean, is that very... Is that worrying for you in public health?

Is that perhaps we did so much focus on COVID that other things we didn't pay attention to?

- We know that people put off their routine medical care.

It's not just children, it's adults.

And the hospitals during the worst of the inpatient crisis, we're seeing people coming in a lot sicker than they would've been if they had dealt with their health problems earlier in the pandemic.

I think that that is something that we're gonna have to look at going forward, that public health and healthcare must work together to make sure that our community is healthy.

- We are hearing in all awful lot about avian flu right now, as you well know.

I mean, it's decimating some up poultry flocks, particularly in Iowa, but some cases could be seen in Illinois not yet of course.

The key though, is that this is decimating the bird flocks, the human impact of avian flu, very rare, very unusual if exists at all in this area.

- Right, I mean, right now the USDA says that there is no immediate public health concern for the public.

People who work with poultry, including meat processors should wear PPE and report sick birds to the USDA.

I mean, this could become something, but right now it is not a public health threat.

- Is there anything that the health department does do?

I mean, 'cause I know you do collect birds when it comes to West Nile and for some of the other diseases that are spread by birds, wild birds in particular.

Is there anything that your department does as far as avian flu is concerned?

- No, that is run through the Department of Ag in most states and nationally.

- And then once again, you are a little worried about Lyme disease and West Nile going into this summer.

I mean, now you're back to all of those basic concerns that you had, not that you didn't have them before, but they get moved back up to the forefront now.

- That's right, I mean, that was the thing about the pandemic.

We were doing all of the pandemic work, all the things that you saw us doing, and we were still doing everything else.

Last summer, we still tested birds every week for West Nile.

And we didn't have a confirmed case, but everyone here and or throughout the State of Illinois should understand that West Nile is endemic here and they should act at accordingly.

West Nile for the most part is a pretty mild illness, but about one out of 150 people get seriously ill and sometimes die.

You can reduce your risk by using intact insect repellent and wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants, when you're outside in the summer.

- Janet Hill from the Rock Island County Health Department.

April is known for real big changes in weather, but no matter the weather, there's still plenty for you, your friends and family to do in the cities.

And Laura Adams is about to tell you out and about.

- [Laura] This is out and about for April 15th through 21st.

American Doll and Toy Museum in Rock Island holds an Easter Egg Giveaway the 16th from noon to three.

Grace Family Church hosts their Scrambled Eggs, Community Easter Egg Hunt, the 16th from noon to two.

The shops of the Woodlands in Bettendorf invites you to their inaugural Easter extravaganza the 16th, from one to three.

And the village of East Davenport hold their Easter Egg Scramble 5K Run/Walk, the 16th at 9:00 AM.

It's time for the Viola Boys Demolition Derby at the Mississippi Valley Fair Grounds, April 15th and 16th.

The Quad City Toy Show present their Diecast only at Highland Park Bowl, the 16th from 11 to two.

While on stage, Shenandoah performs at Rhythm City Casino.

The Avey Grouws Band and Lauren Anderson perform at the River Music Experience the 15th at 7:30, the TaxSlayer Center hosts Santana the 15th at eight in Chicago, the 19th at seven.

The chilling thriller Veronica's Room by Ira Levin runs through the 16th at the Black Box Theater.

And Circa'21, Just Desserts, a musical bake-off continues.

For kids, Grace for President opens on the 19th.

Join nine Quad City's leaders for 90 Ideas in 90 minutes at the Adler Theater, the 21st at 7:30 AM.

And Bottoms up Burlesque celebrate their 10th anniversary at the Speakeasy with performances April 15th and 16th.

For more information, visit wqpt.org.

(gentle music) - Thank you, Laura.

Lojo Russo is back on the stage, which is great, because she says performing is a passion.

She joined us at Moline's Black Box Theater last year to perform one of her originals.

Lojo Russo and Restless Soul.

(guitar music playing) ♪ There is a sun down main street ♪ ♪ Attracts me like a moth to a flame ♪ (guitar music playing) ♪ Illuminating words saying ♪ ♪ Thank you, please come back again ♪ ♪ He reminds my restless soul been here too long ♪ ♪ Without a word or whisperer ♪ ♪ Going, going, gone ♪ (upbeat guitar music) ♪ There's a girl back in Boston ♪ ♪ Remembers better me ♪ ♪ When I took everything for granted ♪ ♪ Gave it all away for free ♪ ♪ It reminds me of time when I thought ♪ ♪ I could do no wrong ♪ ♪ And like a fading photograph ♪ ♪ Going, going, gone ♪ (upbeat guitar music) ♪ Are you tired of running ♪ ♪ From all the lies that I've told ♪ ♪ Comes a time and a place ♪ ♪ when you stand face to face ♪ ♪ With the wit of it all ♪ ♪ Hurting so hard ♪ (upbeat guitar music) ♪ There' a side to the story no one has ever heard ♪ ♪ It's a side that's the truth ♪ ♪ And a side no one gets hurt ♪ ♪ I'm reminded that history is rich ♪ ♪ And those who lost all ♪ ♪ And life bridges, turning to hurt ♪ ♪ I'm going, going, gone ♪ ♪ I'm going ♪ (upbeat guitar music) ♪ I'm tired all right ♪ ♪ From all my thoughts and regrets ♪ ♪ Comes a time and a place ♪ ♪ When you stand face to face with the wind of it all ♪ ♪ And hurting to all alone ♪ Lojo Russo and Restless Soul performed on the stage of the Black Box Theater in Moline.

It's a relationship that's been in the making for years.

And for the last 12 years, Western Illinois University has been honored as among the best colleges and universities to help veterans earn a degree.

The honor continues again this year, thanks to the hard work at Western's Veterans Resources Center.

And we talked with the head of that center, Ronald Pettigrew.

This is quite an honor, but it's like 12 years in a row that you've been picked a military friendly school.

Why is that a big deal for Western?

- I think Western's always been a military friendly school.

This is just one reporting agency, and it's not just military friendly, we're also beds for vets.

What happened is during a certain period of, you know, most people are aware for the last 20 years, we've been at a state of war or conflict.

And academic advisors, numerous people off campus decided, how can we do more as a university?

Taking care of veterans used to be a side office out of the Parent Resource Center that we had.

And about 12 or so years ago, they decided we need to do more, and we can do more.

That director was a pointed, Kathy Myers, my predecessor, and tons of people turned it around to support her and others, that we got our own Veterans Resource Center that was kind of a separate area that was to be a one-stop shop and taking care of folks.

That's why, but what I would say is Western, I mean, even our name Leatherneck tells you we have some history there, that it's not about 12 years, it's about what we've been able to document recently.

- By focusing on non-traditional students that really works well and dovetails well into what you're trying to do as far as bringing more veterans into the program and into the university.

- Western historically has been a very friendly school about helping people get their degree completed through that general studies program that a lot of the state universities had, but it was an area of excellence with respect to us.

- What do you do in particular for a veteran to get them more acclimated or even interested to begin with, with a four year degree at Western?

- We do a lot of things.

One, all the veteran has to do is email, respond, or any way talk to us.

And as I was sharing with you before, we work as a one-stop shop.

So once that veteran engages us, some of the other connections with admissions, with billing and receivables, with financial aid, with a lot of things, particularly if they're military activated, will help them with all kind of be a conduit to ensure that they are successful.

Their military transcript, ensuring candidate they get credit, and things of that nature are a lot of the things that we do.

We just make it simple that they aren't going through it alone.

I'm sorry to say, sometimes higher education can almost be Darwinian, in my opinion.

It can be survival of the fittest.

And our military personnel who are serving our nation don't need and/or deserve that.

We kind of have an ethos, leave no man, woman, shipmate, battle buddy, wing man behind.

And so that's kind of the approach that we take.

We kinda double check all the details with their gray aids, with how they're doing, attending, if there are any problems.

And we have the ability as a Veteran's Resource Center to directly engage and kind of help them to be successful there, or to explain the process.

And the great thing, what I want you to hear me say over and over again is it's not just about me, it's not just about the Veterans Resource Center as a single point of failure.

We have faculty, we actually have military liaisons in every school, a lot of the different departments, that if I'm having a problem, either with a faculty, a student or staff, I can reach up to them and have them talk to all the players involved that help us to be successful.

- What tends to be the biggest problem for veterans?

'Cause you think of veterans as being, you know, they got out of the military, they're very employable.

I mean, employers want them, they'd be very great inside of a college.

I mean they're taking things seriously.

So what problem is it distinctive for veterans at a four year school?

- I'll go back to what I was saying before.

In the military, we kind of have an ethos of taking care of each other, but when you go into a civilian setting, it's not always the same.

For anyone in the military, they do a six to eight week to possibly as long as a 13 week orientation, where everybody knows their job, and failure is normally not an acceptable option.

When we come into higher education, sometimes shooting for the A, shooting to stand out causes a process I think where people don't have as much engagement and/or ask the hard questions or follow through or like higher education, you don't have to show up for your classes.

And sometimes if you can pass all the tests and get a grade it's okay.

And so kind of some of those dynamic would be some of what I would say.

We also live in a world where you said the word, nontraditional students.

I've been through higher education a couple different times.

And I had my entire family, a spouse and kids.

I'm also a drilling reservist.

Half of our students who are in the military profile are reservists, so they aren't just doing their academic, they're also ready at any time to be called up by our nation.

When the pandemic happened, when whatever you wanna call January 6th and some of the other domestic disturbance type thing, we had over 50 students that were activated and called up.

And so as a student, not just having your regular studies, but having those other things, being a nontraditional student and or military or reserve.

And let's just be honest, when you've been on the other side of the world, you've had some of the things that different people have had in the military.

Sometimes it's hard to look at a textbook and or some of the other things and take them as serious, because at the end of the day, as I regularly say, sometimes every day above ground is a good day.

Except if you are in a submarine, sometimes would be kind of the impression that there's a different reality some of our people who serve in the military deal with on a regular basis.

- Ronald Pettigrew, Director of the Western Illinois University Veterans Resource Center.

On the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device, and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us as we talk about the issues on the cities.

(upbeat music) - [Woman] Wheelan-Presley Funeral Home and Crematory have been serving Quad City families and veterans since 1889 Wheelan-Presley Funeral Homes are located in Rock Island, Milan, and Reynolds, and are proud supporters of WQPT.

- [Man] At IHMVCU, we've always been here for you.

You are, and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial and physical health.

And we are here.

IHMVCU is a proud supporter of WQPT.

- [Woman] Alternatives is a proud supporter of WQPT, and has been serving our community for 40 years.

Alternatives provides professional guidance to maintain independence and quality of life for older adults and adults with disabilities.