A large tree fell across power lines on West Elm St. in Albion late yesterday afternoon, causing a large power outage in the city, including the courthouse and city hall. Electricity was not restored until late last night. Also affect by the power outage was El Cactus Mexican Restaurant.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,538 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois, including 73 additional deaths. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,010,525 cases, including 32,249 deaths, in Illinois. As of Wednesday night, 1,611 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 298 patients were in the ICU and 146 patients were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 10th – 16th is 2.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 10th – 16th is 3.3%. A total of 20,950,257 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Wednesday night, 4,077,011 of those have been booster doses. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 21,021 doses. Wednesday 20,750 doses were reportedly administered in Illinois, 6,778 of those were booster doses.
Due to the weather, all Clay County Schools will be closed today, Friday Feb. 18. A decision about extra curriculars will be made early this afternoon.
The FCHS Board met last night. Superintendent Fulkerson reported that the new stage curtains would be installed on 2/22, and 2 of 3 new buses have been delivered. In Activities: FCHS PepBand will be playing during the IHSA Basketball State Finals in Champaign, this week is FCCLA Week, Next week is FFA Week, Several students participated in the Academic Challenge, Rehearsals continue for Momma Mia, 2 FCHS Wrestlers are participating in the State Finals, FCHS Lady Mules will play for a Regional Championship. The board set graduation for May 15, 2022. The board tabled the 2022-2023 School Calendar, pending further clarification and discussion. The calendar will be brought back for approval during the March meeting. The Computer & Technology class was made a 1/4 credit class instead of 1/2 credit, and they let fuel bids for FY23. The board also accepted the retirement of Custodian Jeff Angle effective July 1, 2022 and approved the custodian payscale after an Executive Session.
The Fairfield Public Library will host a Check for Cash event on February 24th from 10:30 to 12:30. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza currently has records of more than 100,000 uncashed checks worth over $30 million, and the application will allow taxpayers to see if they are owed uncashed state checks worth more than five dollars issued in the last 10 years.
FMH has provided an update on its expansion progress. This week mechanical, plumbing, and electrical contractors are installing and testing the final stages of their work, and flooring contractors are beginning work in both elevators. Furniture, artwork, and signage are being installed in the second and third floors. Next week, contractors will complete punch-list items, and the general contractor will begin training FMH staff on various equipment in the new addition as work continues to be finalized.
A Flora police officer was injured Tuesday night when a car driven by 20-year-old Mendenhall, Missouri resident Steven Durr failed to stop at a stop sign on U.S. Route 50. ISP says the officer’s squad car was struck in the front-middle-passenger side by the front of the other vehicle. The officer transported himself to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, and Durr and a passenger were taken by ambulance to a hospital. Durr was cited for disobeying a stop sign, failure to yield at an intersection, and operating a vehicle without insurance.
Ag producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15th to sign a contract. The USDA says it offers the two safety-net programs to provide income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, both crop-by-crop, or ARC-Individual, which is for a farm as a whole. Election changes for 2022 are optional, but producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. If an election is not submitted by March 15th, it remains the same as the 2021 election for crops on a farm.
FMH will be bringing their 3-D Digital Mammography Services to Edwards County High School (west side of the building by the Junior High entrance) in Albion for a Mobile Mammography event on Saturday, February 19th, with appointments starting at 8 a.m. No physician order is needed for those who are over the age of 40. It must have been at least one year since your last Mammogram. Patients are asked to bring their insurance card, photo ID, and doctor’s contact information. This event is for annual screening mammograms only. Individuals can call the FMH Diagnostic Imaging Department at 847-8249 to secure an appointment with one of FMH’s skilled technologists. Walk-ins are also welcome until 11 am, after 11 am patients will be seen by appointment only.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, February 21st in observance of Presidents’ Day. As a reminder, Secretary White has extended all driver’s license and ID card and learner’s permit expiration dates to March 31, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses and CDL learner’s permits. In addition, the U.D. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.
State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) along with State Representatives Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City); and Chris Miller (R-Oakland) defied the Illinois House mask rules and were forced to vote on bills remotely instead of on the House floor. They are issuing the following statement on what transpired on the House floor Thursday: “For the third day in a row, we refused to comply with the House mask mandate because of our commitment to highlight the unnecessary school mask mandate and because we are tired of rules and policies that don’t make any sense. This time the Democrat majority followed through with their threat to remove us from the House floor and we were forced to vote on bills remotely instead of in person on the House floor. At one point House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch stated that there were more important things to do than spend time on the House floor debating masks. His statement illustrates how out of touch the Democrat majority is when it comes to the frustration of parents across the state of Illinois. These parents are tired of the cruelty brought on their children with these senseless mask mandates at schools. They are tired and frustrated and they want someone to listen to them. What can be more important than the concerns of parents about what is happening to their children? Our message to Illinois parents is simple. We are listening to you. We stand with you, and we support you. The Democrats are feeling the heat because the public has had enough of the two years of the mandates and the disregard for their concerns. We must be resolved now more than ever to return Illinois to normalcy. We are going to keep fighting for your rights as parents to make healthcare decisions for your kids and we hope you will keep fighting too.”
As scandal continues to surround Governor J.B. Pritzkers pardon of convicted arsonist Jerame Simmons that allowed him to become fire chief of the Prairie Du Pont Fire Department, House Republicans Wednesday introduced legislation (HB 5693) that aims to prevent similar situations from happening. Simmons pleaded guilty to arson in 1999 after setting fire to ceiling tiles in his high school basement and to an abandoned house when he was 18. He was sentenced to four years of probation. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker this year pardoned Simmons. State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
River stages as of early this morning: the Little Wabash east of Fairfield stands at 22.36 feet, above the 17 ft. flood stage. Meanwhile, the Skillet Fork at Wayne City has a reading of 15.03 feet (flood stage is 15 ft.). The Little Wabash below Clay City is at 20.15 feet (flood stage is 18 ft.). Bonpas Creek at Browns reads 17.22 feet, and the Little Wabash at Main Street in Carmi reads 25.06 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel sits at 16.19 feet.
Today’s crude oil price is $84.76, down $1.99 from yesterday. The March crude oil price is $91.84, down $0.45 from yesterday morning.