NW Illinois News

State Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is set to join Durand city leaders in hosting a drug drop-off event next month.

Chesney is scheduled to be joined at the Nov. 13, event by Durand Mayor Sheila Hoffman and town police chief Jeff Schelling. Unwanted or expired prescription drugs can be left for safe disposal. The event runs from 11 a.m.  to 1 pm. at Durand State Bank, 1005 Cameron Drive. Accepted medications include prescription medications, prescription ointments and patches, pet medications and vitamins.

“I want to thank Mayor Hoffman and Chief Schelling for their willingness to host this event with me to help keep prescription drugs from getting into the wrong hands in our region,” Chesney said in a post to his website. “Over 50 residents came through our recent event in Lena. Many area residents may have been sitting on these unused medications since before the pandemic even started. This is a great, free opportunity to properly dispose of these medications.”

Medications collected will be incinerated and it is up to the individual if they want to remove personal identifying information before making the drop-off.

A free 3′ x 5′ Illinois-made American flag will be given to the first 10 participants, with a limit of one per household.

Chesney has also been busy taking a stand against what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s abuse of power, recently filing legislation he hopes will undo his latest mask mandate and restore “local control” to lawmakers in Springfield.

“People throughout Illinois and frankly throughout this country are getting so tired of edicts from politicians about how to live their lives,” Chesney recently posted on Facebook. “In the face of this terribly patronizing treatment from politicians, it is well past time we restore local control. I have faith that the health department officials in our counties, the teachers in our classrooms and government closest to the people are perfectly capable of making correct decisions for the residents they have been duly elected to represent. But to be told how to run our lives through edicts from Springfield or Washington is simply not acceptable.”

House Bill 4131 seeks to establish that only a school board or governing board at a public or nonpublic school will have the authority to determine, in consultation with the local health department, if and when to implement mask-wearing mandates for school staff, students, and visitors after the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency related to COVID-19.