Protect your dog and family from ticks! Dogs love to roll around in the grass, jump in brush and walk in wooded areas – ALL places ticks may live. Watch this video to find out the proper way to check and remove ticks from your dog from Heidi Johnson, who works in Animal Care and Control for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center.

Drivers with outstanding fines and costs for traffic violations in Lake County can pay off their outstanding traffic tickets at their original cost during the County’s “Operation Green Light” initiative July 17 to 21. 

Operation Green Light payments can be made over the phone or in person at one of Lake County’s branch courts.  Find out more, including where to pay.  

Locating missing persons, finding weapons and drugs, tracking suspects and inspecting for bomb threats are some of the ways our K-9 Unit has made an impact in our communities. Watch this video, and see how Dax, Diesel, Duke, Boomer and their handlers work to help protect Lake County.

This summer, join the fight against opioid addiction. Here’s how:

• If you know someone who is addicted to opioids, find help.
• If you know someone who is dealing opioids or other drugs, report a tip.
• If you have unused or expired prescription drugs, bring them to one of these drug disposal box locations. 

Did you know 68 percent of Lake County residents have continued schooling beyond high school, and 43 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher? That exceeds the national average by 13 percent! Learn more about Lake County’s workforce by viewing Lake County Partners 2016 annual report.

And, government, business and community leaders are continuing to work together to grow our talent economy. Watch this video to learn more as leaders came together to discuss how to attract businesses to the county at Lake County Partners' Big Event. 

Are you seeking employment?  Transitioning careers?  Attend “Five Steps to Your Next Job” to learn current job search techniques and other tips to land your next job! The next workshop series will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 17 to 21 at Cook Park Library in Libertyville. Learn more, including how to register. Also, view the full schedule of workshops and job events the Job Center of Lake County will offer through July.

Lake County is Hiring!
Lake County government offers career opportunities that cover a wide spectrum of fields including law, law enforcement, corrections, nursing, finance and budgeting, highway maintenance, and more. View the current job opportunities available. 

The Lake County Courthouse Expansion project is well underway! Watch this edition of Lake County's Dirty Jobs as County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor tackles an important task and sprays fireproofing material on the steel beams in the building, which will make it safer in the event of a fire. This project, which is anticipated to be completed in summer 2018, is designed to increase the efficiency of the justice system and support growth of the justice agencies out to the year 2030 and beyond. 

Lake County Public Works is committed to providing safe water to our customers. In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, we publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) describing the sources, treatment and chemical analysis of each water distribution system.

Learn more about what we are doing to protect your local drinking water quality and find out where your water comes from in this video.

Individuals who struggle with substance abuse can get directed quickly to treatment through a pilot program called “A Way Out." The program is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at participating police departments in Lake County. Individuals, who possess narcotics or paraphernalia, enter a participating police department and tell an officer they are requesting help will avoid criminal charges if the participant seeks assistance. Watch this video to learn more about the “A Way Out” program.

Forest Preserve News

Gateways Grants Open the Door for Schools 
As budgets shrink, field trips are increasingly out of reach for Lake County schools, especially in low-income communities. Since 1991, Gateways Grants have made field trips possible for tens of thousands of students. They benefit from “school” in outdoor and museum settings, where learning is experiential and profound. School districts with a low-income population of 40 percent or more are eligible. Gateways Grants cover program fees and provide a bus stipend. Donations fully fund this program. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in Gateways Grants by the start of the school year. Help make field trips possible.

Little Sprouts: Planting a Seed
Help plant the garden at Bonner Heritage Farm in Lindenhurst and sow seeds to take home. Join us down on the farm for fun and frolicking on select Wednesdays through October. Get to know families while kids enjoy stories, hands-on activities and crafts. Learn more

Eat Healthful Produce and Support Local Youth
Eat healthful produce and support local youth when you shop at the Green Youth Farm of Lake County market. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 12. Purchase fresh and nutritious organic vegetables, herbs, honey, and more, grown in Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago by area students. Learn more

Family Fun Fridays at Independence Grove
The beach at Independence Grove gets even better on Fridays with games, contests and prizes around a different theme each week. Join the party from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. These events are open to all ages and free with beach admission. No registration is required. Learn more

Preservation Foundation Helps Fund Ranger Training
Lake County Forest Preserve Ranger Police patrol 10 percent of the land in Lake County, making ours the second largest jurisdiction. As part of their work, rangers often encounter people with emotional, cognitive, and mental health challenges. The Preservation Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved a grant for Crisis Intervention Training to provide all full-time rangers with skills to deescalate interactions with people in crisis and connect them with health services. This specialized training will directly improve public safety in your forest preserves. Learn more about how you can stay safe in the preserves with these safety alerts and tips.

The 89th annual Lake County Fair will take place July 26 to 30 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. Don't miss family fun, including the livestock barns, rodeo, carnival rides, music and much more. Learn more