Hair Salon In Springfield Reopens As Lawmakers Return to Capitol

A hair salon in Springfield is open and cutting and styling hair as the legislature is coming into session this week.

Riley Craig Shaffer, the owner of Bow and Arrow, says she is prepared to deal with the whatever the ramifications are of being open and ignoring the stay at home order.

Shaffer says she closed the salon down before the official stay at home order was made but now she has been closed long enough and it’s time to reopen.

All barbers and salons will be allowed to reopen at the end of May as the state moves into phase 3 of the Governor’s planned reopening.

9 People Injured In 1 Vehicle Accident On I-57

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police

District 12

 

WHAT:                      Single Vehicle Injury Traffic Crash

 

WHERE:                   Interstate 57 Southbound at Milepost 157, Effingham County     

 

WHEN:                      May 18, 2020 at 7:10 p.m.

 

VEHICLE:                Unit 1- 2000 Gray Honda Van                       

 

DRIVER:                   Unit 1- Kimyada Hunter, 40, from Marianna, AR - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

 

PASSENGERS:         Unit 1- Deidra Miller, 32, from Bellwood, IL - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Unit 1- Markem Clark, 28, from Chicago, IL - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Unit 1- Yakita Hunter, 26, from Marianna, AR - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Unit 1- Miracle Hunter, 18, from Marianna, AR - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries  

                                    Unit 1- Minor age 7 - airlifted to an area hospital with life threatening injuries

                                    Unit 1- Minor age 4 - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

                                    Unit 1- Minor age 2 - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

                                    Unit 1- Minor age 2 - transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries

 

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on I57 in the right lane near milepost 157 in Effingham County. Driver of unit 1 stated that an unknown vehicle in the left lane swerved nearly striking unit 1. The driver of unit 1 then swerved to avoid collisions with the unknown vehicle and left the roadway to the west.

 

CHARGES:               Unit 1 driver was cited for Improper Lane Usage, 4 counts of Failure to Secure Child in a Child Restraint Device, and Operation of Uninsured Motor Vehicle.

Unit 1 passenger, Markem Clark was cited for Failure to Wear Seatbelt

Unit 1 passenger, Deidra Miller was cited for Illegal Transportation of Alcohol.

Shimkus' Art Contest Winner Influenced by Coronavirus

MARYVILLE, Illinois – Reflecting the trying times we are enduring, an oil painting titled "War Paints" by Red Hill High School's Lydia Higgins has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition for the 15th District of Illinois, Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) has announced.

"Lydia's technique certainly stood out in her piece. It is a worthy champion to wrap up my final art contest," said Shimkus, who is retiring from Congress at the conclusion of his current term.

The painting depicts a girl in her late teens or early twenties, according to Higgins, who explained, "I created this piece with all the issues going on in the world right now, especially the coronavirus. This girl represents everyone fighting through this tough time in history. The paint covering her face represents the tough times we are going through, the heartache and the pain. The butterfly represents the beauty. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope, and life. In this painting, the butterfly represents what we are fighting towards today: health, peace of mind, and safety."

As is tradition, "War Paints" will join other winners from congressional districts throughout the United States on display for the next year in the pedestrian tunnel that connects the U.S. Capitol with the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC.

Not only did the current pandemic caused by the coronavirus influence the champion artwork, it forced the entire contest to become a contact-less online event. Instead of receiving the individual entries in his district offices, Shimkus had the artists photograph each piece and submit the photos electronically for the judging.

The Congressional Institute sponsors the nationwide high school visual art contest to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district. Since it began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Lydia Higgins, Red Hill High School, "War Paints," oil painting

Lydia Higgins, Red Hill High School,
"War Paints," oil painting

State Announces 1.8 Million SNAP Recipients Will Be Able to Buy Food Online

Plans were announced today to enable 1.8 million SNAP recipients to purchase food from participating grocery retailers online has been approved by the federal government.

This new purchasing option will begin on June 2. All Link customers will be alerted when they can use their card to make food orders online.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved IDHS’ SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Online implementation plan, which gives SNAP customers the ability to enter their Personal Identification Number (PIN) to order groceries online. All SNAP recipients with Link cards in Illinois will be able to participate.

Walmart and Amazon have agreed to accept online orders in Illinois once the program site launches. Additional grocery retailers are welcome to join EBT Online. Any retailers interested in the program can find more information and apply at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot.

Shoulder Operations Scheduled for SR 57 in Washington

DAVIESS COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation lane restrictions for State Road 57 at the intersection of Meridian Street in Washington.

Beginning on or around Monday, June 1, INDOT contractors will restrict lanes to 10 feet near the intersection of Meridian street while crews perform shoulder work along the west side of the roadway. This operation is part of a project to realign the intersection at Meridian Street and S.R. 57. Workers will have temporary markings in place along with construction barrels to help motorists during the lane shift. No road will be closed as a part of this operation and access to local businesses and homes will be maintained at all times.

Depending upon weather conditions, work on this phase is expected to be complete by the beginning of August. Restrictions will be in place around the clock during this time.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

President/CEO Updates WGH Board On COVID-19 Response

At Monday’s Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors meeting, WGH President and CEO Karissa Turner updated the board on how the hospital continues to cope with the pandemic. She reported the hospital had conducted 261 COVID-19 tests on symptomatic patients with just one coming back as positive and 4 of the results are pending.

Since WGH resumed elective procedures last week, all patients facing an outpatient procedure are screened for COVID-19 and all 32 of those tests have been negative.

Turner said the hospital has also been able to cut down on foot traffic by using virtual visits. 153 patients have seen their provider virtually since they were implemented about two months ago.

Wabash General currently has a 12 week supply of PPE’s on hand according to Turner who said the hospital’s materials management department has done a good staying ahead of any shortages.

City Contacts IDNR To Help Solve Oak Meadow Flooding

Much of the discussion at Monday’s City Council meeting dealt with the deluge Sunday evening as over three inches of rain in a short amount of time caused flooding problems throughout the city. Again one of the hardest hit areas was the Oak Meadow subdivision where heavy rains typically cause issues. Mayor Joe Judge said he contacted the Soil and Water Conservation District office on remedies that might be available. He was then directed to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ office of water resources….

 Street Commissioner Tom Meeks said there’s no easy fix to the Oak Meadow issues…

Fire Commissioner Chandler Madden said firemen spent Monday using the tanker truck to hose off mud from several of the flooded streets and intersections.

City Clerk Rudy Witsman said one of the issues contributing to the flooding across the city is residents continuing to blow grass into the street, which in turn clogs storm drains causing backups.

WCHD Receives 4,000 MRE's

Workers at the Wabash County Health Department were busy yesterday unloading over 4,000 meals ready to eat, or MRE’s. Health Department Administrator Judy Wissel told the county board yesterday that the MRE’s are courtesy of FEMA…

The Lunch Wagon’s Melissa Smith said the MRE’s will be distributed on Friday’s for kids to take home and use for weekend meals.

Wissel said some of the MRE’s will also be distributed to the sheriff’s department to feed prisoners at the jail. She said Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group supplied a fork lift and driver to help unload the 7 pallets of MRE’s that arrived on three I-DOT trucks.

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page

PHOTO: WCHD Facebook page