MCHS Senior Shines In Scholastic Competition

Maya Angelou wrote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” For high school students, the writing of those stories delivers catharsis. Across the nation, those student stories may be submitted to a time-honored and storied awards program, Scholastic Art & Writing, with a tradition of encouraging writers we have read ourselves such as Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, and Truman Capote.

Because of the pandemic, and because of remote learning and other school and community parameters across the region and the country, the deadline shifted while students were writing. However, MCHS students were resilient and determined and submitted competition-ready writing in poetry, personal essay & memoir, short story, portfolio, science fiction & fantasy, and the One Earth scholarship categories. MCHS students who submitted writing were Alexandria Archer, Margaret Bleyer, Kyle Dunn, Eva Hocking, Allyson Pierce, Anne Schroeder & Maxwell Zimmerman.

The competition for writers presents awards in three categories. Honorable Mention is granted to the top 10-15% of all entries; Silver Key to the top 7-10%, and Gold Key to the top 5-7%. Scholastic jurors in this region reviewed thousands of entries this year, and with the extended deadline, the number of entries grew proportionally.

MCHS is pleased to announce one winner, Margaret (Maggee) Bleyer, of three honorable mentions and a Silver Key. Maggee won awards in the following categories: personal essay & memoir, short story, poetry, and science fiction & fantasy. The Silver Key was awarded for the science fiction & fantasy piece, “When the Story Ends.”

Maggee Bleyer is the daughter of Dr. Chuck & Mrs. Tracee Bleyer. Maggee is an anchorwoman/scriptwriter on the MCHS television production Aces TV, and she will perform the role of Alice Beineke in the spring musical production of The Addams Family. About her pieces, Maggee shared this, “Some pieces were written as a form of closure for past experiences. I used my inspiration toward life and other situations to guide my writing. My Silver Key was awarded in a genre I am proud of writing in because I broke the fourth wall. I believe my honorable mentions and Silver Key display my love for writing.” After graduation, Maggee plans to major in English and Radio/Television Communications at Wabash Valley College for the first two years and then transfer for further study at a university in the midwest.  

Courters Sweep Allendale Spelling Bee

On Wednesday, Allendale School hosted their annual spelling bee. Due to covid restrictions, students first competed in classroom spelling bees, then the top two students from each class continued to the school spelling bee. After fifteen rounds, Hallie Courter was declared the winner by spelling the word "followed" correctly. Hallie received a $25 Life Saver CD donated by The First National Bank of Allendale and she will continue to the regional spelling bee. The runner-up, Isaiah Courter, received a $10 cash prize donated by The Allendale School Student Council. 

Spelling Bee Coordinator, Mrs. Elizabeth Perry and Spelling Bee Champion Hallie Courter

Spelling Bee Coordinator, Mrs. Elizabeth Perry and 2nd Place in Spelling Bee Isaiah Courter

Governor: Getting People To Wear Two Masks Unlikely

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said getting people to wear two masks is unlikely because he's still trying to get people to follow his single-mask mandate. Pritzker was asked Thursday if he agrees with a Biden administration official who said two layers of mask is better than one in protecting against COVID-19. Pritzker said he’s heard that but can’t project forward, noting he can’t get everybody to wear even a single mask.

Pritzker Defends Vaccine Distribution In Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is defending his administration’s distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Republicans have been critical because a quarter of the vaccine doses available for long-erm care residents have been administered.

The New York Times puts Illinois near the bottom of all states in getting out at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Among similar sized states, Illinois is underperforming. The state is about the middle of the pack for administering the second dose. For total percentage of doses used, Illinois is in the bottom half.

Pritzker Thursday said despite the comparisons, Illinois’ distribution is speeding up.

“And, I’ve explained before about second doses and making sure people understand the time lag between the time that somebody administers that does and the time that it is reported being administered,” Pritzker said. “What’s happening is the average number of doses per day that’s being administered is going up significantly.”

Data from the Illinois Department of Public Health showed that on Wednesday more than 55,800 vaccines were administered. That’s on top of the 53,600 administered the day before. The seven day rolling average is 36,728.

Illinois started administering doses Dec. 15.

As of Thursday afternoon, only 26.6 percent of Illinois' allotted COVID-19 doses for long term care residents had been administered, or just 131,284 of 496,100.

Republican state senators criticized the governor for underperforming other states and for administering only a quarter of the doses meant for long term care residents, a population considered at most risk of COVID-19.

In a letter to the governor, they said “those in long-term care facilities have been dying, families haven’t seen each other in months, and our economy has faced historic obstacles. Yet, with a vaccine in hand, Illinois has failed its residents.”

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said it’s unacceptable.

“We want to help, we want to be part of the process, we know we can do things to help and yet we’re not allowed to,” McClure said. “And then when things go wrong it’s somebody else's fault, it’s not his fault.”

McClure said the legislature has been cut out of this and other issues like the state’s unemployment problems and more. He demanded public hearings and even audits.

“We should be able to prod and get answers to questions,” McClure said. “I shouldn’t have to call 50 people to get a response about an issue.”

Senate President Don Harmon's office said Harmon, D-Oak Park, shares the concerns raised by both the governor and Republican senators "about the ineffective and unacceptably slow rollout of the long-term care facility vaccination program by the federal government and its corporate partners."

"Clearly things haven't gone the way we were led to believe they would go, and clearly this isn't just a problem in Illinois," Harmon spokesman John Patterson said. "We are reviewing the matter and best course of action for getting answers and, more importantly, results. It is our hope that the Biden administration will be able to quickly correct this problem it inherited."

As of Thursday afternoon, Illinois public health officials reported 1.4 percent of the state’s population is “fully vaccinated.”

Local Residents Make Anderson University Dean's List

Anderson, Ind. -- Anderson University has announced its dean’s list for the fall semester of 2020. Local residents Madison Merritt and Jaden Merritt are among the students who are being recognized for their outstanding academic achievement.

Madison Merritt is a freshman at Anderson University. She is studying Elementary Education. Jaden Merritt is a sophomore. He is studying physical education.

To be named to the dean’s list, a student must earn a semester grade point average (g.p.a.) of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0.

Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, national security, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.

Newkirk Named New MCES Principal

Mt. Carmel Junior/Senior High School Principal Jake Newkirk will be the new principal at the elementary school taking over for the retiring Sheila Odom. The school board Monday night approved Newkirk’s transfer effective with the next school year. No action was taken by the board this week on who will be the junior/senior high school principal next year.

WSJD File Photo

Madden: City's Recycling Center To Relocate Giving Residents Easier Access

Mt. Carmel residents will soon have better access to the city’s recycling program. At this week’s city council meeting, commissioner Chandler Madden announced the recycling center was moving…

Madden said moving the recycling will be good for residents, as long as they respect the rules…

Madden said information will be released soon on the exact date of the move and updated list of items that will be accepted at the recycling center.

Wabash County Sheriff’s Office Introduces Hospital-grade UV-C Disinfection Technology to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Facilities

WABASH COUNTY, IL — Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan today announced that his office has incorporated hospital-grade UV-C light technology into its disinfection protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the County’s jail, call center, offices and other spaces. The County partnered with Command Sourcing, Inc., an industry leader in corrections technology support, to deploy R-Zero’s UV-C disinfection system, Arc.

“As law enforcement, our top priority is protecting and serving the people of Wabash County and we need to do that without disruption” said Sheriff Morgan. “As COVID-19 spreads in our community, adding this disinfection technology helps us keep staff and inmates safe while significantly lowering the chance that the virus could spread in our facilities. Using R-Zero’s UV-C light technology to quickly and easily disinfect our spaces without the use of chemicals lets us focus on keeping Wabash County safe.”

UV-C light is a proven disinfection technology known to kill over 99.99% of all pathogens including COVID-19. The unit purchased by the Sheriff’s Office -- R Zero’s Arc -- can disinfect air and surfaces in a 1,000 sq ft. room in just seven minutes, freeing up time and resources for the County. The Sheriff’s Office purchased Arc with federal CARES Act funding at no additional cost to Wabash County taxpayers.

“UV-C light significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission and other infection diseases common in correctional facilities including hepatitis, tuberculosis and influenza,” said R-Zero Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Wade. “The technology has long been used by hospitals as one of the most efficient and effective ways to disinfect air, water, and surfaces, but historically, hospital-grade units have been cost-prohibitive for most organizations. Now, our partnership with Command Sourcing, Inc. helps bring R-Zero’s hospital-grade UV-C technology to county jails and other facilities at a fraction of the price.” 

Sheriff Morgan’s office has been using Arc to disinfect jail cells in a matter of minutes after each inmate is discharged. The Office is also using Arc to regularly disinfect staff spaces to keep essential functions operational when COVID-19 cases arise. 

In one example, after an employee at the County’s 911 call center tested positive for COVID-19, the Office immediately rerouted calls to a nearby center, brought in the Arc unit to disinfect the space, and reopened the call center in under 10 minutes. This rapid disinfection protocol allowed the County to keep the essential work of fielding emergency calls going with almost no disruption. 

Bill Reed Announces Retirement As Head of Water/Sewer Maintenance Department

After being called out to fix water and sewer problems at all hours of the day and night for more than 4 decades, Bill Reed is calling it a career. At Monday’s City Council meeting, Reed announced his retirement as the head of the Mt. Carmel water and sewer maintenance department after 46 years. Reed started his career in 1975 when Tommy Stroup was mayor.

Mayor Joe Judge commended Reed for his service and said his experience and knowledge will be missed…

In his retirement which is effect March 31st, Reed said he plans devote more time to the church he’s pastored for 20 years.

Bill Reed announces his retirement as the head of Mt. Carmel’s water and sewer maintenance department.

Update: Valentine's Day Orders Accepted At MCGS, Not At MCES

MCGS will be accepting Valentine's Day deliveries for students and staff. There will be a procedure to follow so please check the website for pending instructions from Mrs. Foster.

Earlier, Sheila Odom, Principal at MCES issued a reminder that Mt. Carmel Elementary School is not accepting Valentine's Day deliveries. This has been our policy all year long about outside deliveries to protect our children, faculty and staff. Please help support our local businesses by purchasing and having them delivered at home or picking them up and surprising your child after school.