Somewhat drier weather is expected for the region this week, with only small chances of rain in the forecast the next few days. A warmup is expected the next few days, with high temperatures getting back into the low to mid 90s along with high humidity as the result of rainfall the past few days. Longer range forecasts indicate somewhat warmer and drier conditions.
The Carmi City Council is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the City Council Chambers. On the agenda is consideration and discussion concerning the hiring of a new police officer at the request of Chief of Police Jason Carter due to an officer retiring. Tuesday’s meeting will be the first of their two monthly meetings scheduled for August, which will also include various committee reports and a closed session to discuss personnel and property issues.
A ten year old girl has died after a fall in the Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois. Reports said the incident happened Friday at the Devil’s Smoke Stack, where the girl fell 100 feet off a cliff. She was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and died from her injuries on Saturday.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a disaster proclamation for Washington and St. Clair counties in southern Illinois following last week’s heavy rainfall in the St. Louis area. The proclamation allows the counties to receive additional resources from the state to help with the flooding and recovery efforts. According to a post on the Washington County EMA Facebook page, the county was given government support due to the dam breach at the Nashville, IL City Reservoir.
No one in southern Illinois won the Mega Millions jackpot Friday, however the winning ticket was sold in Illinois, according to reports. The jackpot reached $1.337 billion after a surge of last-minute ticket sales. The winning ticket was sold in Des Plaines, IL. Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays said the lottery prize is the biggest ever won in Illinois and the second largest Mega Millions prize ever won. The retailer that sold the winning ticket will receive $500,000. As of Saturday morning the winner had not been identified.
Area river stages as of this morning: Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 25.71 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. At Clay City the stage is 19.24 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet, with the river expected to be below flood stage Monday. At Carmi the stage is 24.94 feet. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 10.9 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 7.79 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet.