WMOK News Check – Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Today we expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 87°. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Tonight – Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between midnight and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68°.
Thursday – Isolated showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90°.
Thursday Night – Mostly clear, with a low around 74°. . Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

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The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook Statement for our area. Today and Tonight – Widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms are expected today. A few of the thunderstorms may approach severe limits during the morning, with marginal hail and gusty winds the primary hazards. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to redevelop tonight. A few of the storms may become severe with damaging winds and hail. In addition, some thunderstorms could produce heavy rain capable of isolated flooding. The better chances for strong to severe thunderstorms will be over west Kentucky and a small part of southeast Illinois and southwest Indiana.

Thursday through Tuesday – Thunderstorms are forecast early Thursday, then again Friday night through Saturday evening. A few of the thunderstorms Thursday morning, Friday night, and Saturday afternoon and evening may approach severe limits with gusty winds and hail as the primary hazards. Otherwise, locally heavy rain and lightning can be expected with any of the thunderstorms.

Today is I Love Reese’s Day! Today we celebrate the candy that brings chocolate and peanut butter together, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, as well as the man who created it, Harry Burnett Reese. In 2010, Hershey sponsored an online petition to declare May 18 as I Love Reese’s Day, and it was signed by 40,000 fans. May was chosen as the time because the holiday would then be sandwiched between National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day in March, and Chocolate Day in July. As part of the first celebration, Reese’s gave away 10,000 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

In 1917, H.B. Reese began working on a Hershey dairy farm, and in the early 1920s, he started working at a Hershey candy factory. At that time he began making candy in his basement, in part because he was well on his way to having sixteen children and needed to make some extra income to support them. He used various fresh ingredients and coated them in Hershey’s chocolate.

He quit Hershey’s and formed the H.B. Reese Candy Company in 1923. He created a wide variety of candies and was successful enough to build a new factory and home in 1926. Reese invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. Since he sold them for only a penny at the time, they were known as “penny cups.” They became the most popular candy he made, and he started selling them in five-pound boxes to retailers for their candy displays.

During World War II, when sugar was being rationed, Reese stopped making everything but peanut butter cups, which used less sugar than the rest of his candies. His company continued to grow more successful, but he passed away in 1956 at the age of 76. He left his company to his six sons, and in 1963 they sold it to Hershey’s Chocolate Company for $23.5 million in shares—which are now worth over $1 billion.

There have been many varieties of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and related products over the years, such as dark and white chocolate peanut butter cups; miniature, mini, and big cups; and Reese’s Pieces. There even is a cereal called Reese’s Puffs. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups continue to be one of the top candies sold in the United States and are enjoyed by millions there and around the world.

Today is Mother Whistler Day! Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, a portrait James Abbott McNeil Whistler painted in 1871 of his mother, Anna McNeil Whistler, is unofficially known as Whistler’s Mother, and is one of the most famous paintings by an American citizen that is not kept in the United States, is housed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It is unknown why Mother Whistler Day takes place on May 18, although the May 18, 1977, edition of The Journal Herald says “today is the birthday of Mother Whistler,” perhaps suggesting that the portrait was painted or made public on the date. The source adds that “a group from Huntingdon Valley, Pa.” are the day’s sponsors and they say of the day, “it’s time to whistle while you work, play or whatever,” implying that the celebration of Mother Whistler Day has little to do with Whistler’s Mother.

More recent online sources support the position that the focus of Mother Whistler Day is on whistling and whistlers, saying it’s for celebrating all those who can whistle. Whistling is done by making a small opening with the lips and blowing or sucking air through. Airflow and sound can be altered by curling the tongue and changing the shape of the lips or fingers. Whistling is used in music, by spectators at sporting events to show approval and disapproval, at competitions, and for communication—between people and to animals.

Local Arrest Reports

May7, 2022 – Curtis W. Whited,42, Metropolis was arrested in the 600 block of E. 6th St. Whited was wanted on a warrant. The warrant was issued by Massac County for Criminal trespass to property. Whited was lodged in the Massac County Detention Center.

May 8, 2021 – Metropolis Officers were called to Fairmont Apts to check on a person sleeping in a vehicle. Upon arrival, Officers located Timothy P. Ashworth,59, Golconda, IL in the parking lot. Ashworth had been previously been trespassed from Massac County Housing property. Ashworth was arrested and charged with criminal trespass to property. He was lodged in the Massac County Detention Center.

Upcoming Fundraisers and Events

MAY

City of Metropolis Spring Clean Up Week May 16 – May 20, 2022

On Friday, May 20 from 9:30 – 11:30AM the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church will have a Food Distribution Event.

On Saturday, May 21, from  7 AM – 12 PM  at the Vienna Community Farmers Market Johnson County Courthouse  –  Vienna Community Farmers Market located on the town square in Vienna, IL 1.5 miles west of I-24.

Coming Up in June:

Date: 06/07/2022 (Tue.)  Time: 10:30am – 11:30am CDT  Location: Metropolis Public Library

Metropolis Public Library Summer Reading Program Registration – Sign up here for the Summer Reading Program! This program runs every Tuesday for 8 weeks, starting June 7th. Spots are limited. See below for complete list of program dates.

June 7,14,21,28, July 5,12,19,26

Age groups for our in-house program: Little Wigglers -3 & Under,  Pre- K & Kindergarten,   1st & 2nd,  3rd & 4th *The Library will provide a take home program for any 5th & 6th grade students interested in particpation for the summer. Ask the front desk.

*One parent must remain with child/children 5 & under.

* Please let them know if your child needs any special accomodations, they want it to be a great experience for all children.

On Thursday, June 9, at 7P – Superman  5K Fun Run / Walk at Harrah’s Metropolis.  This Massac County United Way fundraiser is FUN for the whole family!
Entry Fee: $20 (by June 3) or $25 after  Kids 10 & Under: $10 (by June 3) or $15 after  T-shirts are guaranteed for pre-registered runners.

Sign Up: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Metropolis/SupermanRoadRace  **NEW LOCATION** This year’s race will begin the Harrah’s Metropolis Casino & Hotel Parking Lot.

Questions? Email cpierce@cnb-metropolis.com

Southern Seven Health Department will have Wellness on Wheels – Massac County Health Screening Events

On June 15 – Happy Hearts Senior Center in Metropolis 10AM – 12:30PM

On June 15 – Brookport in front of City Hall – 1 – 4PM

More Upcoming Fundraisers and Events

Local Job Listings

More Local Job Listings

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