WGH To Receive $1 Million 0% Interest Loan

Wabash General Hospital is the recipient of a $1 million zero percent rural economic development loan. At yesterday’s WGH Board of Directors meeting, the hospital’s Lynn Leek said the loan is facilitated through Wabash Communications and USDA…

The loan is to be used for projects that create and retain employment in rural communities. According to Leek, WGH will repay Wabash Communications the loan directly. Board chairman Rob Coleman said the announcement yesterday was “very good news” for the hospital.

Virtual Groundbreaking To Kick Off WGH Project

It may not be the ideal situation to kick off a multi-million dollar building and expansion project, but COVID restrictions are forcing Wabash General Hospital officials to hold a virtual ground breaking in early November for the new medical office building and hospital expansion.

At yesterday’s hospital board meeting, President/CEO Karissa Turner said since IDPH guidelines restrict gatherings to 50 people or less, stakeholders in the project will record video segments on November 6th which will be produced into one video and then released to the public. Some of the groups participating in the virtual groundbreaking include hospital administration, board members, architects, and contractors, medical office staff and others involved in the project slated to begin in early 2021.

The centerpiece of the $14.5 million project is a two-story, 32,000 square foot medical office building that consolidates several physician offices into one building adjacent to the hospital.

Rendition of the new WGH medical office building.

Free GED test prep classes to be offered at Wabash Valley College

Wabash Valley College is pleased to announce it will be offering free GED test prep classes. This class includes tutoring, instruction and materials, and it’s all free!

The classes will be offered from Oct. 20 to Dec. 17 and there will be two different class slots to choose from. One class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and the other class will meet from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Both will meet in Main Hall Rm. 205 at Wabash Valley College.

You must register before Thursday, Oct. 20. To schedule an appointment to register, please call Tabby in the Academic Success Center at (618) 263-5126 or email her at niduazat@iecc.edu.

The GED allows you to test when and where you want, receive test scores immediately and complete one section at a time. It also offers easy online registration and online scheduling.

The cost of the test is $120 for the entire test or $30 for each section.

If you become a WVC adult education student by enrolling in one of the GED test prep courses, you could qualify to take the GED test for free. As a WVC GED test prep course graduate and GED test completer, you could also qualify for special college scholarships.

For more information, contact Tabatha Niduaza at (618) 263-5126.

WCHD Hosting IDPH Drive-Thru No Cost COVID Testing This Saturday

The Wabash County Health Department is hosting IDPH no cost drive-thru COVID-19 testing this Saturday at the health department.

New company takes over managing WVC’s Red Café

Mt. Carmel, Ill.— Wabash Valley College is excited to announce that it has entered into a partnership with Manish Malhotra, who owns the company MRM3 LLC which operates several Wings Etc. and Arby’s locations. Malhotra is leasing the Red Café and started serving WVC’s students and community on Monday, Sept. 21.

Malhotra said that he heard about the opportunity “through Mike Carpenter and Tanner Morris — our favorite guests at Wings Etc.,” and that he became interested in the opportunity because of his experience as an international student. “I knew how much I missed not having a good meal at college at affordable price,” so he decided to change that.

The new management of the Red Café also means new food options are now available. “We have an assorted menu which has some Arby’s and Wings Etc. favorites along with dinner specials each day,” said Malhotra. “We will also ensure that we have some vegan/vegetarian options available as well.”

The café is going be open in the evenings in order to better serve WVC’s student body and community. Malhotra holds a Bachelors in Hotel Management and was with Arby’s Restaurant Group for 12 years.

“Now, we own six Wings Etc. Restaurants and two Arby’s locations in the Midwest, with the closest ones in Princeton, Indiana,” said Malhotra. Malhotra also noted that they currently employ several WVC students in the café and that they are still looking to employ more.

Be sure to stop in, grab a bite to eat and support our new partner! They are presently serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will also be taking call-in orders between serving hours. Their hours are 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the phone number for the Red Café is 618-263-5067.

Dr. David R. Miller Welcomed To WGH Board Of Directors

At yesterday’s Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors meeting, chairman Robert Coleman welcomed Dr. David R. Miller to the board. Miller takes over for Larry Briggs who resigned at the end of 2019 following more than 25 years of service on the board.

Before the start of Monday’s meeting, Dr. David R. Miller (C) was welcomed to the WGH Board of Directors by chairman Robert Coleman (L) and WGH President/CEO Karissa Turner (R).

District Prepping For Full Return Of Students On Tuesday

Wabash District #348 is taking additional steps to keep students, teachers, and administrators safe as classes resume on a 4 day a week basis this week. At last week's school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer outlined what’s being done… 

Starting today, Monday’s will be reserved for remote learning days while Tuesdays through Fridays will see all students who have not opted into full remote learning, returning to class. Bleyer said lunches will be served and buses will run as normal. 

Treasurers Office Taking Safety Precaution Ahead Of Tax Collections

It’s not clear yet when Wabash County property taxes will be mailed, but treasurer Beverly McBride said her office continues to work on ways to have contactless tax collecting. She’s hoping by the time the tax bills are mailed and collections begin, local COVID numbers will have dropped. Wabash County has switched to new tax software this year, so tax bills won’t be ready until the conversion has been completed. 

State Allowing Fall Hayrides....With Restrictions

Within a matter of hours late last week, state officials went from saying there shouldn't be any hayrides because of COVID-19 concerns to allowing some hayrides with restrictions. A state Representative says the change seems arbitrary.

State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, is a hay farmer. He said hayrides are a big fall tradition. He’s also in Region 4 where the governor for weeks has had mitigation measures in place limiting business operations. To the change of guidelines that eventually allowed hayrides late last week with certain restrictions, Meier said it doesn’t seem to be based on science and data as the governor insists.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes in the past, and they’re not always science and data,” Meier said. “After Region 4 was given that one week extension to try to get things under control, that wasn’t science and data, that was because a lot of people from his same [Democratic] party were asking him.”

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity did not immediately respond to why the change in guidelines for hayrides.

Meier said the change from first saying hayrides shouldn’t operate to then saying they can operate with restrictions is more of the same.

“We’ve watched him change things back and forth before,” Meier said. “Maybe his daughter wants to go on hayrides and that’s what’s happened. She’s been allowed to go out of state and go to her horse competitions, so maybe she wants to go on a hayride in Illinois and that’s why we’re going to have them, but at least some people are going to enjoy hayrides and for that I’m happy.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently criticized people bringing his daughter into the situation, saying she’s competing in approved sporting events.

The updated guidance the state posted for hayrides includes allowing haunted hayrides, but haunted houses are to remain closed. Many haunted houses across the state are limiting their operations to outdoor events only.

HauntedIllinois.com has a list of more than 80 so-called home haunts in the Chicagoland area with elaborate yard displays and other attractions. Though, even many of those are scaled back because of COVID-19 concerns.

Ryan, Blago Offer Advice To Madigan

Two former Illinois governors who served time in federal prison have some unsolicited advice for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Former Gov. George Ryan, who served prison time for federal corruption charges, was the Speaker of the House before Madigan was elected speaker in 1983.

“I always got along with Mike and we worked together pretty much to get things done for the state and we worked together when I was speaker and when I was governor,” Ryan said in an interview. “Mike’s got his hands full, I think.”

Ryan, a Republican, is doing interviews promoting his book, “Until I Could Be Sure,” which focuses on his steps to stop the death penalty in Illinois in 1999 before being convicted and sentenced to prison for corruption in 2006.

The 86-year-old Ryan had a message for the 78-year-old Madigan about being in the scope of federal investigators.

“You know when the FBI puts their ‘x’ on you that they’re going to prosecute you, they’re only about 92 percent effective,” Ryan said. “They’re probably the most effective agency in government.”

“That’s always the best advice, be open and above board about everything,” Ryan said.
In late July on his podcast for WLS radio, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Madigan should be honest.

“If you’re not going to fight back and deny this stuff and tell the people who look to you as a major public official that not only did you not doing anything wrong but ‘I’m going to take the questions and answer specific allegations and I’ve got nothing to hide,’ unless you do that then you’re telling me you’re guilty,” Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich, a Democrat who calls himself a “Trumpocrat,” maintains his innocence of federal corruption charges despite serving years in prison, only to have his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

The Speaker needs to come clean with the people of Illinois, Blagojevich said.

“We don’t have a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” Blagojevich said. “It is instead government of Mike Madigan, by Mike Madigan and for Mike Madigan.”

Madigan Friday declined to voluntarily testify in front of a House committee. Tuesday’s House hearing in Springfield won't have any witnesses, according to chairman state Rep. Chris Welch, D-Hillside. It’s unclear if the committee will move to subpoena Madigan to testify, Madigan said Friday that he won't appear before the committee.