On August 18, 2020, at 8:56 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith conducted a traffic stop on a Red 2007 Dodge Truck after observing the driver of the vehicle was not wearing their safety belt on State Road 165 near Elm Street in Owensville. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 56-year-old Timothy Davis of Owensville. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Davis being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. Davis was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted a $650 bond.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Owensville Town Marshal Rodger Leister.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Central Illinois Town Says "No" To Mask Mandate
An Illinois town is thumbing its nose at Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate.
The central Illinois community of Le Roy with a population of about 3,500, will not require masks to be used within city limits.
The City Council voted down a proposed ordinance that would have required face coverings for people who were working, shopping at local businesses, picking up food at a drive-thru or curbside, or interacting with people at businesses and churches.
On social media before the vote, Mayor Steve Dean suggested the council table the ordinance to give state officials time to clarify the guidelines. Instead, several City Council members said they had heard from local residents who voiced opposition to the mask ordinance.
Alderman Greg Steffen said he doesn't think masks are very effective in the first place.
“I don’t think the mask is going to do much,” Steffen said. “I have no problem with people wearing a mask, but it is their choice, not the government’s to dictate it.”
Multiple studies have shown mask use can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend the use of face masks to help prevent transmission of the virus.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask enforcement is directed at businesses, not individuals. A business owner could be punished with fines up to $2,500 if customers or staff were not wearing a mask after multiple warnings. Steffen said it is up to businesses in Le Roy to require face coverings, and if they don’t require masks, so be it.
“I am not sure who is going to enforce that, but the city is not,” Steffen said.
Superintendent of Schools Gary Tipsord said the vote does not affect local schools because students will be wearing masks as required by the state.
“Our priority is to be able to provide in-person instruction for 175 days, and we are going to follow the appropriate guidance and protocol that will hopefully get us there,” said Tipsord.
Bipartisan Push For Ethics Reform In Springfield
Democrats and Republicans at the Illinois statehouse both support proposed legislation designed to address corruption in government through changes to ethics rules, but Republicans want to take them up before the November election while Democrats said the plans can wait until after the election.
Last week Democrats held a press conference laying out a slew of ethics reforms. Those reports included more oversight into lobbyist activities, barring legislators from being lobbyists, restricting the revolving door of former lawmakers becoming lobbyists, term limits on legislative leaders, and various other measures.
State Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, said there is bipartisan support “and [we’re] looking at in many different ways between now and November when we hope and trust that we will have something that we are going to be able to vote on.”
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, led the group of Democrats last week pushing for changes.
“The issue of general ethics reform has been elusive and we think it’s time to act,” Manar said.
Manar and other Democrats stopped short of demanding a special session. The fall veto session isn’t until after the November election.
Several House Republicans on Tuesday said they agreed with many of the reforms Democrats brought forward last week. Some noted many had been proposed by Republicans for years.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said he worried the cloud of corruption over Democrats, with several under indictment or federal investigation, would make getting a special session called by Democrats more difficult until voters are long gone from the ballot box.
“I think it’s exactly why they’re waiting because they don’t want to deal with these issues and I think if they would show that up in front of the election people would be disgusted with that,” Bailey said.
The lack of urgency is troubling to state Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, who agreed the various changes are needed.
“Nobody should care that there's an election coming up,” Cabello said. “When it comes to the reforms that are needed badly in one of the most corrupt states in the union. Talk is cheap. I say no more talk. It is time to get our tails back here and pass real common-sense reforms.”
He said taxpayers deserve to know their lawmakers are cleaning up corruption within Illinois state government.
The reforms lawmakers from both sides are coalescing around touch on lobbyists and legislative leadership oversight.
IDPH Issues Safe Places To Vacation Map
Vacationers who want to avoid coronavirus hot spots have a new tool. The Illinois Department of Public Health has released a travel guide that shows which states and countries with increased risk of COVID-19 due to case rates.
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the map can be useful with choosing a safe place to vacation.
“If you are opportune to be taking a vacation and you have some choice in the matter, please take a look at this map,” Ezike said. “It’s some simple guidance. Maybe it will help you make a choice to pick one location over another.”
Ezike added that airports, bus and train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces. The more people a traveler comes into contact with, especially interactions for longer periods of time, the greater the risk of infection if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Locations that have an average daily case rate of 15 cases per 100,000 or greater are designated as “high risk” on the map, which can be found on the IDPH website or here http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/travel.
According to the guide, Illinois’ neighboring states get varying grades. Wisconsin, Indiana and Kentucky are states considered with lower risk, while Iowa and Missouri are considered high-risk states. Nationally, Florida and Georgia have the highest case rate per 100,000. Globally, numerous countries in South America are considered high risk areas.
Chicago has issued its own emergency travel order directing travelers entering or returning to Chicago from certain states experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases to quarantine for 14 days from the time of their last contact with the identified state.
As of Aug. 18, those states were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Puerto Rico.
7 More Positive Cases In Wabash County; 81 Total
August 18, 2020 Wabash County Health Department release:
Changing Of The Guard For Allendale Fire
The Allendale Rural Fire Protection District (ARFPD) recently held a ceremony to mark the “changing of the guard” from one generation to another.
Gerald Brooks, the former Fire Chief, passed the operational leadership role of the department to former Lieutenant Cale Johnson. The former Assistant Fire Chief Rick Medler, passed his leadership role to former Lieutenant Bobby Johnson.
Neither Chief, however, has totally retired from the department. Brooks has assumed the role as one of the three Trustees for the Department. Both Brooks and Medler will assist as responders and mentors.
Former Fire Chief Brooks passes the Chief’s badge to newly-named Fire Chief Cale Johnson. Former Assistant Fire Chief Rick Medler passes the Assistant Chief’s badge to newly-named Assistant Fire Chief Bobby Johnson.
School Board Hears Remote Learning Update From Superintendent
At last night’s Wabash District #348 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer updated the school board on the move to remote learning announced Monday.
Census Day Postponed
This Friday’s Census Day has been postponed…
1st Wabash County Death Is Reflected In Today's IDPH Update
Today’s IDPH update:
Wissel Brings County Board Up To Date On COVID-19
Wabash County Health Department Administrator Judy Wissel brought the county board up to date last night on the COVID-19 spike locally. According to Wissel, there have been 74 positive cases in Wabash County since the pandemic began in March. She said three are hospitalized in a regional hospital while the first death has been reported.
Coroner Shaun Keepes said yesterday the victim was a 60 year old Mt. Carmel woman who died at home.
Wissel said long term care facilities in Wabash County are dealing with cases as well….
Wissel said the health department is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing starting at 10am Monday through Thursday. She said those wanting a test need to call the health department to schedule a time. Results are typically available in 2 to 3 days according to Wissel.