Due to a water line leak/repair, a boil advisory has been issued until further notice for Rural Wabash County Water District customers in the following areas: 840 rd, 1220 Blvd (between 840 rd and 870 rd), 870 rd, and 1250 Blvd (all from 840 rd going East). This is the area behind Sugar Creek, W/SW of Mt. Carmel. The purple highlighted area in the picture is the affected area. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back for updates to this boil advisory.
Tier 3 Mitigations Not Ending Anytime Soon
Don’t look for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to loosen COVID-19 restrictions anytime soon.
During his daily briefing on Monday, Pritzker said Tier 3 restrictions will remain in place for the next few weeks, even if some regions meet the requirements to have the restrictions removed. The governor did not say when restrictions would be lifted.
“We have got to take the time to evaluate any Thanksgiving effect before making any premature adjustments,” Pritzker said.
The governor said a significant number of indoor gatherings will most likely create a post-holiday surge, and it was not the time to pull back on any mitigations.
The director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, said people who got together with extended family over the holiday should get tested for the virus.
“It is recommended to wait about 6 or 7 days after exposure to be tested, but if you have symptoms get tested right away,” Ezike said.
Under Tier 3 restrictions, indoor service at bars and restaurants is prohibited, and retail spaces have capacity limits. Theaters, casinos, banquet halls and museums are ordered closed, and indoor fitness classes and group sporting activities are not allowed.
Positive case numbers are trending down, but that could be the result of slow reporting over the holiday weekend. On Monday, the IDPH reported 6,190 new COVID-19 cases with 85 additional deaths.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of the total tests from Nov. 23 to Nov. 29 was 10.2%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity during that same time period was 12.2%
More Than 1/3 Of Illinois Small Businesses Close Since January
More than one-third of small businesses in Illinois aren’t open, compared to January of this year. That’s according to data from TrackTheRecovery.org, an effort from Harvard and Brown universities and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The report shows in Illinois, as of November 16, the number of small businesses that are open decreased by 35.4% compared to January 2020.
Many Bars/Restaurants Around Illinois Still Ignoring Indoor Service Ban
Business owners across the state continue to allow patrons inside despite a ban on indoor service at Illinois bars and restaurants.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker implemented the restrictions on Nov. 20 in response to rising coronavirus cases, but many mayors and law enforcement officials have said publicly they won’t enforce the measures.
Morton Mayor Jeff Kaufman said the town would not be enforcing the order. He stated at a village board meeting state law doesn’t grant local municipalities the authority to enforce the orders.
"Everyone in the community has the right to decide how they feel about going into a restaurant with indoor dining,” Kaufman said. “We are allowing the public to decide for themselves.”
Before the mitigations kicked in, East Peoria Mayor John Kahl said his city also would not enforce the restrictions.
“East Peoria will not be enforcing the restrictions that will be imposed by the Governor on our business community,” he wrote in a Facebook post, saying that not a single business had been found by the local health department to pose a risk to the public health.
Pritzker recently responded to McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally's announcement that he would not enforce an indoor ban. Pritzker said he hopes the state’s attorney would “follow the law and do the right thing because people are getting sick.”
Pritzker’s comments came after Kenneally last week said he would not enforce the governor’s indoor dining ban and questioned the governor's executive authority.
Despite the ban, several bars and restaurants in Carbondale, East Peoria and Galesburg, and many in smaller towns continue to open their doors for customers.
Some communities have decided to lay down the law. Five bars and restaurants in Bloomington are accused of violating the state’s ban on service and will appear at a Bloomington Liquor Commission hearing on Dec. 8. They could be fined or have their liquor licenses suspended or revoked.
The Illinois Restaurant Association has pointed out that restaurants are among the most highly regulated for sanitation, making them safer than other businesses Pritzker is allowing to remain open.
City Council Amends Liquor License Fees To Aid Businesses Hit Hard By COVID
The Mt. Carmel City Council took action last night to aid local bars and restaurants with liquor licenses hit hard by the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns. Mayor Joe Judge explained the aid comes in the form of liquor license fees…
Then starting July 1st of next year, the city will cut the liquor license fee in half for the remainder of 2021.
Judge stressed that the break on liquor license fees was good for 2021 only.
Wabash County Records 326 COVID-19 Cases In November
On Monday, the Wabash County Health Department reported 30 new positive COVID cases in Wabash County. The county’s total positive cases since the pandemic began now stands at 595. There are currently four Wabash County residents who are hospitalized being treated for COVID.
November was by far the worst month as far as cases in Wabash County as cases more than doubled in the last 30 days. At the beginning of the month, Wabash County had 269 cases before adding 326 cases over the course of November.
Brady Waldroup Hired As Mt. Carmel City Attorney
Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge has appointed Brady Waldroup as the new city attorney, taking over for Kelli Storckman who is the new Wabash County State’s Attorney. Waldroup is a resident of Lawrenceville and is a lawyer with Gosnell, Borden, Enloe, Sloss & McCullough, Ltd.. Judge said Waldroup comes highly recommended and he thanked Storckman for her three and a half years as city attorney.
Brady Waldroup (L) and Mt. Carmel Mayor Joe Judge (R) following Monday’s City Council meeting where Judge appointed Waldroup as the new city attorney.
Wabash County Office Holders Sworn In
Today is the first day of Wabash County’s fiscal year and new office holders were sworn in for new terms.
Kelli Storckman was sworn in as Wabash County’s new state’s attorney. She takes over from Cassandra Goldman, who served as state’s attorney for 12 years before deciding not seek a fourth term.
Scott “Scooter” West was sworn in this morning to a six-year term as a Wabash County Commissioner. He assumes the seat previously held by Robie Thompson who stepped down after a 6 year term.
In addition to Storckman and Thompson, coroner Shaun Keepes and circuit clerk Angie Crum took the oaths of office for new four year terms.
Wabash County Resident Circuit Court Judge William C. Hudson. presided over this morning’s swearing in ceremony.
Kelli Storckman takes the oath of office as Wabash County State’s Attorney.
Kelli Storckman takes the oath of office as Wabash County State’s Attorney from Judge William C. Hudson.
Kelli Storckman takes the oath of office as Wabash County State’s Attorney.
Scott “Scooter” West takes the oath of office as Wabash County Commissioner.
Scott “Scooter” West takes the oath of office as Wabash County Commissioner from Judge William C. Hudson.
Wabash County Coroner Shaun Keepes is sworn in for a new term.
Wabash County Coroner Shaun Keepes is sworn in for a new term by Judge William C. Hudson.
Wabash County Circuit Clerk Angie Crum is sworn in for a new term.
Wabash County Circuit Clerk Angie Crum is sworn in for a new term by Judge William C. Hudson.
Wabash County Resident Circuit Court Judge William C. Hudson. presided over this morning’s swearing in ceremony.
Two-State Theft Ring Busted
SULLIVAN COUNTY, IN - On November 27, 2020 Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputy Cole Boatright learned of a backhoe stolen from Crawford County, IL stashed at a residence in Sullivan County.
Deputy Boatright consulted with Prosecutor Ann Mischler before obtaining a search warrant from Sullivan County Circuit Court.
Deputies from Sullivan County, along with the Indiana State Police executed the search warrant on the property.
During the search several ATV’s, tools, a trailer and a backhoe were found on the property, all previously reported stolen in both Lawrence and Crawford County, IL.
Methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia was also found during the search.
Daniel Snyder -28, of Bridgeport, IL was arrested for multiple counts of felony theft, Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Syringes.
Snyder is currently incarcerated at the Sullivan County Jail with a $95,000 cash bond.
Assisting: Indiana State Police and Edington’s Wrecker Service.
All persons accused of a crime are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
District #348 To Continue Remote Learning Through End Of Semester
From Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer: Due to the increase in COVID-19 infections throughout the county, all Wabash 348 schools will remain in remote learning until January 5th, 2021. The Grade and Jr. Sr. High Schools will continue to keep open the WiFi Cafes, and meals may be picked up between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm daily. If you have any questions, call the school office between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm Monday-Friday. We are sorry for this inconvenience and look forward to returning to in-person instruction in January. Stay safe and Go Aces!