Jim Keeling is on the board that is helping to facilitate the drive to bring the International Women’s Baseball Outdoor Museum to Rockford. Jim also discusses new construction coming to Beyer Stadium that will honor the Rockford Peaches, and shares that an Amazon Prime TV Series on women’s baseball will be coming to Rockford for filming.

Runtime: 9 minutes

[caption id="attachment_177656" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Hononegah Forest Preserve is the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County's oldest preseve and one of its most popular. This year the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County celebrates 100 years. (Photo by Samantha Crooks/Forest Preserves of Winnebago County)[/caption]

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County.

Samantha Crooks, communications coordinator for the Forest Preserves, joins Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline to talk about some of the ways the organization will celebrate its first century. (Listen to the full interview at the bottom of this article.)

She has challenged people to explore all 44 of the forest preserves this year in honor of the 100th anniversary.

The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County were created by a public vote in November 1922. It was the third forest preserve to be created in the state. The preserves now encompasses 11,500 acres of woods, wetlands, rivers, prairies and ponds in Winnebago County.

"We hear a lot of people just thanking us for what we do and they're very thankful to have a place to go to to just unwind and kind of get away from work stress," Crooks said.

[caption id="attachment_177657" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Samantha Crooks is communications coordinator for the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. (Photo provided by Forest Preserves of Winnebago County)[/caption]

Listen to the full interview below:

[caption id="attachment_175429" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Riverside Community Church will have its drive-thru live Nativity scene Saturday and Sunday. (Photo provided by Riverside Community Church)[/caption]

By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas

Rock River Current

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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."

More Machesney Park news: Church moves in to former On The Curve restaurant

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.

More seasonal news: Festival of Lights brings 'sheer joy' to Christmas season

If you go | A Night in Bethlehem

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.