The latest numbers from the Illinois Department of Public Health show the state has had a total of 2,957,563 cases of the coronavirus and 31,296 total deaths. The IDPH did not provide some updates this week because of the winter weather in the state. According to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 75 percent of Illinois’ population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 66 percent of Illinois’ population is fully vaccinated and over 47 percent have received a booster dose.
Clay County Sheriff Andy Myers reports several arrests by his department over the past several days. Among them, 53-year-old Roger D. Smith of Fairfield was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Operation of an Uninsured Vehicle. Bond was set at $3000, and he appeared in Clay County Court and was released. The arrest was reported on January 26th.
Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro is welcoming a new physician. Inessa Chernysh, DO, is a physician graduate from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York. A native of Ukraine, she obtained her pediatric medical degree from Ukranian Medical University, and after moving to the United States, completed her Master’s in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She is accepting patients at the McLeansboro and Carmi family clinics, and more information is available by calling (618) 643-2988.
Several state’s attorneys throughout the eastern portion of the Fifth District in Illinois have endorsed Justice Barry Vaughan for the Illinois Appellate Court. Among the attorneys is Wayne County States Attorney Kevin Kakac and Edwards County States Attorney Eric St. Ledger, along with White County States Attorney Denton Aud. Judge Vaughan is currently an Appellate Court Justice and has served as a judge for nearly 20 years.
Area river stages as of this morning: Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 16.36 feet, just below the 17-foot flood stage. At Clay City the stage is 12.6 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet. At Carmi the stage is 13.32 feet. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 6.55 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 10.2 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet.