The next meeting of the Carmi City Council is set for this Tuesday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at 225 East Main Street. Among the items the council is expected to discuss is the potential approval of a resolution authorizing Mayor Jeff Pollard to seek bids for trash pickup with amended requirements. A closed session is also scheduled to discuss personnel matters with possible action to follow.
The latest numbers from around the area shows some counties in southern Illinois with dropping rates, with a rise reported in some other areas. Reports this morning showed Wayne County with 11 new cases of COVID-19 within the past week and one hospitalization. Marion County reported 36 new cases for the past week and two hospitalizations and no new deaths. The county had been on the “medium-risk level” for COVID-19 for a week, but dropped back to the “low-risk level” when new weekly results were released on Friday. Jefferson County had added 31 new cases within the past week and Clay County 18 cases.
Edwards County Treasurer Debbie Smith says the due date for 2022 Mobile Home Taxes is July 29th. A late fee of $25 will be added for any unpaid taxes after July 30th and an extra $25 fee will be added every month the tax is delinquent. The 2022 extension for mobile home taxes is $20,790. Payments can be made at the Edwards County Courthouse in Smith’s office or by using the drop box. Payments can also be mailed in. Those with questions can call (618) 445-3581.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says a second probable case of monkeypox has been found in the state as of Friday. The case was found in the Chicago area, and the second case was a close contact of the first positive case that was announced Thursday, according to the IDPH. An Associated Press report said a tweet from the IDPH indicated the risk to the general public from monkeypox remains low. As of Friday the U.S. had identified at least 20 cases in 11 states. Monkeypox belongs to the same virus family as smallpox, but its symptoms are milder. People usually recover within two to four weeks without needing to be hospitalized, but the disease is occasionally deadly.
Area river stages as of this morning: Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 6.72 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. At Clay City the stage is 5.76 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet. At Carmi the stage is 4.96 feet. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 5.14 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 9.92 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet.