The Knox County YMCA will be included as a local area warming center as frigid temperatures impact our area Wednesday, January 30th and Thursday, January 31st. The YMCA on Carl Sandburg Drive will be staffed for the next two days to help serve local residents in need of a warm place to go. CEO Adam Sampson says they’ve been working with other local non-profits to stay open. “The Y can’t take all the credit,” Sampson said. “We’ve been working with the Red Cross with blankets (and) water, the United Way with food and everything else. We just happen to have the facility. If one person comes, it’s worth it. We’re happy that we’re able to be a part of it. There are lots of other moving parts to be able to provide this. We’re just happy that we’re one of the players in the game.” You are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and towel if you plan on utilizing the Y as a warming center. Other local warming centers include the Galesburg Public Safety Building, the Galesburg Public Library, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Oneida and Wataga fire stations. Projected highs for Wednesday, January 30th is 11 degrees below zero – factor in a wind chill of 44 degrees below zero. Wednesday night, lows are dropping to 22 below zero. The record low was set in 1996 at 17 degrees below zero.
