ADAM SACASA/THE VOICE PHOTO

Kari Keimig, a third grade teacher at St. Paul elementary, and her beagle, Bob, attended the pet blessing and mass at the school’s gym on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. Over 100 people came with their pets to the annual event.

ADAM SACASA/THE VOICE PHOTO

Jamaal Nowlin, a junior at WIU and two time combat veteran as a sergeant in the  U.S. Army, tells the group about his experiences in both war and the city and urges students to tutor and  mentor others back home at an anti-violence vigil on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. The event was created in response to the beating death of 16-year-old Fenger High School honor student Derrion Albert.

“‘I’ve survived my entire tour, all the car bombs and the road bombs and the gun fire and everything only to become a victim in my own house,” said Nowlin. “That’s ridiculous.”

ADAM SACASA/THE VOICE PHOTO

From left, Micah Ramos, age 7, Jesse Bailey, age 5, Gabe Ramos, age 4 and Alexa Ramos, age 4, try to get the attention of Taz the donkey at the Saturday October 10, 2009 Harvest Festivial petting zoo in Macomb, IL.

ADAM SACASA/THE VOICE PHOTO

Shannon Roon and Callie Vanhootegem, both Macomb High School students, burst into laughter as Masters of Fine Arts graduate student Ben Cole, playing the clown, jokes with the audience during Bard on the Barn on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

ADAM SACASA / VOICE PHOTO

Dave Holt (left) and Tim Alverson of Alverson Surveying, subcontractors of Hurst-Rosche Engineers, perform topographic work on an overcast Tuesday, October 6, 2009 to gather elevation measurements before engineers create a design for a new stairwell and elevator in The Union on the campus of Western Illinois University.

Temperatures are expected to drop near 50 degrees by the weekend with lows near 27 degrees on Saturday.