Heidi Ognibene of the Rock River Valley Blood Center discusses how the recent Polar Vortex has played havoc with the blood supply in the Stateline area. She outlines the need, the requirements to donate, and shares that RRVBC was asked to donate blood to Texas due to the recent winter storms.
Runtime: 6 minutes
This week, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara discusses the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, Covid-19 percentage rates, why he’s worried about New Year's Eve parties, and about the 9th Street Construction Project that finished ahead of schedule and below budget.
Runtime: 9 minutes
John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, joins Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline to talk about the ways the city is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the debut of "A League of Their Own" and the new Amazon Prime series.
You can get free tickets to an early showing of the new series, which will play at 8 p.m Saturday, July 2 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. The screening is preceded by a street fair starting at 6 p.m.
Groh said about 300 tickets were reserved in a two-hour span Wednesday after the tickets became available at 3 p.m.
"I think Rockford is going to be put in a really good light," Groh told Summers. "I just think it's so cool that we get to have this premier before anybody else in the country."
Listen to the whole episode below.
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Riverside Community Church will have its drive-thru live Nativity scene Saturday and Sunday. (Photo provided by Riverside Community Church)[/caption]
MACHESNEY PARK — Riverside Community Church wants to take people back in time this weekend to experience the first Christmas.
The church's drive-thru live Nativity scene is back this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The display, held outside the church at 6816 N. Second St., features about 45 characters — both human actors and animals. Among the live animals are donkeys, sheep, camels, goats and lambs.
"Just seeing the story of Christmas helps people understand what God did that first Christmas, when he sent his son to be born in a smelly manger," Pastor Bob Sheets said on This Week in the Stateline. "I think people get a good idea of what it might have been like that night in Bethlehem."
This is the ninth year for the A Night in Bethlehem live Nativity scene, which is presented for free.
"It's a crazy time of the year, people get busy," Sheets said. "We just want to give them the chance to slow down for a few moments and experience the true picture of Christmas as a gift from us."
Cars typically line up in advance of the 6 p.m. opening. Once on the church grounds, it takes roughly 10-15 minutes to move through the drive-thru display. The route is lined with about 400 luminaries.
"Our live nativity lets people travel back in time to Bethlehem to experience the story of Jesus' birth," Sheets said.
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12
Where: Riverside Community Church, 6816 N. Second St., Machesney Park
Listen to Pastor Bob Sheets interview with Steve Summers below.
