Work started this week on the big summer project at Mt. Carmel High School. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer says repaving work is taking place on Plum Street behind the high school…
Bleyer said the project is expected to be complete by the end of July.
A campaign is underway to persuade caregivers in long-term care facilities and nursing homes to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
When vaccines became available, many facility employees seemed hesitant to get vaccinated even though they were one of the first groups to have access.
The American Health Care Association, representing more than 14,000 nursing home and long-term care facilities in Illinois and the country, is currently promoting a “#Get Vaccinated” campaign.
“The COVID-19 vaccines have been the life saving turning point long-term care residents and staff have been waiting for,” AHCA Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gifford said. “Since vaccine rollout began last December, the number of COVID cases and deaths within long-term care facilities have reached historic lows.”
Some companies are requiring their employees to get a shot. The Chicago-based Enlivant, which runs long-term facilities in Illinois, has told employees to get vaccinated or find another job.
Bloomington-based Heritage Operations Group, with about 4,000 employees at 53 senior care facilities, is also requiring all staff to get the vaccine.
The virus ravaged nursing homes all over the state. Gifford said there were so many ways the virus could get into a facility.
“We have seen various gatherings where young people spread it to people who then go home and spread to a health care worker who spreads it to a patient and the patient dies,” said Gifford.
A report his week from the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services found that about 4 in 10 Medicare recipients in nursing homes had or likely had COVID-19 in 2020, and that deaths overall jumped by 169,291 from the previous year, before the coronavirus appeared.
By the end of December, more than half of Medicare patients in nursing homes in Illinois had or likely had COVID-19.
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued guidance for essential caregivers (EC’s), which included:
ECs must be screened, tested, and provided PPE in accordance with the health care personnel guidance in the facility’s COVID-19 plan. The facility must document that it has trained the EC on proper infection control, including hand hygiene and appropriate use of PPE. LTC facilities licensed by IDPH must test ECs for COVID-19 as required by emergency rule.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently report nearly 80% of nursing home residents, but only 55% of staff, are now vaccinated.
A July 13th preliminary hearing is set in the case of the Mt. Vernon man that led area police on a four-county chase and subsequent manhunt. 27 year old Ashton Harper faces stolen vehicle and aggravated fleeing charges in addition to traffic infractions. During his initial appearance in Wabash County Circuit Court, Harper was advised of the charges and possible penalties and the public defender was appointed to represent Harper who remains held in the Wabash County Jail. The June 14th pursuit and manhunt began in White County before travelling through parts of Edwards and Wabash Counties and then ending with Harper’s capture in southern Lawrence County.
A 62 year old Mt. Carmel man, arrested twice this year for failing to register as a sex offender, was in court this week for hearings connected to the two cases. James Catt was arrested on January 5th and May 12th by Mt. Carmel Police for failure to register as a sex offender. Both arrests took place at Catt’s residence in the 11-00 block of West 3rd Street. A jury trial in the cases was scheduled to start on October 4th and is estimated to last four days. Pre-trial conferences in the cases are planned for August 16th and September 13th. Catt remains held in the Wabash County Jail in lieu of bond.
ISP INVESTIGATES TRAFFIC CRASH WITH INJURY
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Two Vehicle Traffic Crash with Injury
WHERE: Interstate 70 westbound at Milepost 137, Martinsville Township, Clark County.
WHEN: June 24, 2021, at 3:10 p.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 – White 2013 Freightliner Truck Tractor Semi-Trailer
Unit 2 – White 2019 Subaru Ascent with U-Haul Trailer
DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Kenny C. Horn, a 56-year-old male from Columbus Grove, OH – Refused medical attention.
Unit 2 – Mackenzie A. Wamhoff, a 28-year-old female from Enid, OK - Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
PASSENGERS: Unit 2 – Pamela M. Kooyman, a 69-year-old female from Lincoln, CA - Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Unit 2 – A one-year-old female from Enid, OK - Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Both units were traveling westbound on Interstate 70 at Milepost 137. Unit 1 was directly behind Unit 2. Unit 1 failed to reduce speed to slower traffic and rear ended the trailer of Unit 2. Both units left the roadway into the center median. The driver of Unit 1 refused medical attention. All three occupants of Unit 2 were transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No further information will be disseminated at this time.
CHARGES: The driver of Unit 1 was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
WHAT: Personal Injury Traffic Crash
WHERE: US45 near 300N, White County
WHEN: June 26, 2021 at approximately 1:03 a.m.
VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2007 Red Ford Mustang
DRIVER: Unit 1- Chase Edmonds, 19-year-old male from Carmi, IL
PASSENGER: Unit 1- Bryan Raigner, 20-year-old male from Carmi, IL – Flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening-injuries.
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling south on US45 near 300N in White County. The driver of Unit 1 left the road to the right, striking a utility pole and rolling over numerous times. Unit 1 passenger was ejected from the vehicle and was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening-injuries. The driver of Unit 1 reported no injuries. This crash remains under investigation and no further information is available at this time.
CHARGES: The driver of Unit 1 was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Improper Lane Usage and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Wabash County treasurer Beverly McBride told county commissioners recently that less than 400 mobile home tax bills have been mailed with a due date of August 3rd. She said this year’s number of mobile home tax bills are significantly lower than the 900 to 1,000 that have been mailed in the past. According to McBride, several of the mobile homes have been switched over the years to the real estate tax rolls.
What a difference a year makes. Last April just as the COVID-19 lockdowns began to devastate local businesses, unemployment in Wabash County spiked to 26.5%. But this past April as things have reopened, the jobless rate has dropped to 4.6%. In March of this year, the rate was 5.2%.
Compared to April of 2020, total nonfarm employment increased by 1,350 compared as the biggest employment gains were posted in Manufacturing, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, and Leisure and Hospitality. The only payroll declines came in natural resources and mining and financial activities and both of those decreases were minimal.
The lowest southern Illinois unemployment rate in April was in Randolph County at 4.3% while the highest was in Pulaski County at 9.2%.
Wabash County Commissioners recently made a variety of appointments to local boards. Carolyn Peach, Marcia Hall, and Dr. Lauren Croft were re-appointed to three-year terms on the Wabash County Board of Health; David Roberts was reappointed to a three-year term on the 377 Board for care and treatment of the developmentally disabled. Sharon Majors was approved for a three-year term on the Hallock Cemetery Board and Jamie McCorkle was appointed to a five-year term on the Wabash County Museum District.
In her monthly report, Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman filed 11 felony cases in May, 8 misdemeanors, 1 DUI, and 57 traffic cases. Just over $7,000 in fines were levied with just under $1,500 in restitution ordered. $353 in a deceptive practice was also collected by the state’s attorney’s office.