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Penalty Enhancements for Assaults on Retail Workers

News Progress Posted on by

•May 27, 2020•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com

Measures addressing aggravated battery of retail workers, disability leave for public employees and unionization of employees in the horse racing industry found their way into a COVID-19-response bill this week at the Capitol.
The aggravated battery language in Senate Bill 471 was a subject of heated debate in the House on Friday, which often turned into a philosophical discussion as to whether “penalty enhancements” were worthy public policy.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, who sponsored the bill, claimed that “penalty enhancement” was not the correct characterization of the measure, because “the individual action that would be a crime doesn’t exist. You can’t enhance something that didn’t exist previously.”
Strictly speaking, the bill amends the “aggravated battery” section of law by adding the crime of assaulting or battering a retail worker who is fulfilling duties such as relaying health care or safety regulations from an employer or public health agencies. Read More

County Has 11 Positive Cases

News Progress Posted on by

•May 27, 2020•

The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed the eleventh case of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The patient is a male in his 60s and is recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are contacting all close contacts.
To date, 307 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 11 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.
As public organizations and businesses reopen, it is imperative that everyone use precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 infection.
To help contain the spread of COVID-19, individuals should routinely wash their hands, keep a physical distance of six feet from others and avoid large gatherings. The MCHD also recommends bypassing nonessential trips into the public, keeping children at home and wearing a mask in public when social distancing is not possible.
Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, a dry cough, repeated shaking with chills, body aches, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face.
If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival.
For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.

Eastview Flood

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best
Eastview Flood
The residents of Eastview Subdivision were reminded why “Swampwater” Subdivision became its nickname Sunday night. City crews were called out and residents were cleaning up Monday morning. Photo above is Jess Barker shoveling field debris. Many in the neighborhood received a deposit of corn stalks from nearby fields as a result of the flooding. Barker said it was the worst flood he’s seen in years.

Moultrie County Has 11 Positive COVID-19 Cases

News Progress Posted on by

•May 23, 2020•

SULLIVAN, IL, May 23, 2020 – The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed the eleventh case of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The patient is a male in his 60s and is recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are contacting all close contacts.

To date, 307 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 11 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

As public organizations and businesses reopen, it is imperative that everyone use precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 infection.

To help contain the spread of COVID-19, individuals should routinely wash their hands, keep a physical distance of six feet from others and avoid large gatherings. The MCHD also recommends bypassing nonessential trips into the public, keeping children at home and wearing a mask in public when social distancing is not possible.

Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, a dry cough, repeated shaking with chills, body aches, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face.

If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival.

For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.

 

Moultrie County Health Department Announces Confirmed 10th COVID-19 Case

News Progress Posted on by

•May 22, 2020•
SULLIVAN, IL, May 22, 2020 – The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed the tenth case of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The patient is a female in her 50s and is recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are contacting and verifying all close contacts. To date, 297 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 10 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.
To reduce the risk of infection and help contain the spread of COVID-19, everyone should use effective hand washing, keep a physical distance of six feet from others, avoid large gatherings and keep children at home. The MCHD also recommends bypassing nonessential trips into the public and wearing a mask in public when social distancing is not possible. Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, fatigue, a dry cough, repeated shaking with chills, body aches, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or a bluish color in the lips or face. If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival. For more information on the Moultrie County Health Department’s news, events and services, please visit www.moultriehealth.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moultriecountyhealth.
Contact: Glenda Plunkett
Public Health Services Coordinator
Glenda@moultriehealth.org
217.728.4114

Correction

News Progress Posted on by

•May 20, 2020•

In the May 13 edition of the News Progress story First Community Bank donates a correction in titles: Reid Molzen is President and CEO of FCB , Ray Duncan is Chairman of the Board.

Dreams Come True

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R. R. Best
Dreams Come True
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high, and the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby. Photographer R.R. Best caught a photograph of this double rainbow over Sullivan last weekend. So if you believe dreams can come true it just might be true.

Monumental Graduate

News Progress Posted on by

Photo courtesy Rick Matthews
Monumental Graduate
Sullivan High School graduates adopted one more member to the Class of 2020. The courthouse lawn memorial to those who fought in the Civil War from Moultrie County was dressed in cap and gown to honor high school graduates parading around the courthouse square on May 17.

Real Estate Tax Bills Mailed, First Installment Due in July

News Progress Posted on by

•May 20, 2020•

After much discussion with the levying bodies, the State’s Attorney, and county board members made the difficult decision to maintain the tax cycle and mailing of tax bills as we have always done in the past.
We know these times have been trying for many, but we also know we need to keep moving forward. We reviewed the Illinois State Statutes and the requirements by law for the tax due dates and levying body distributions. Read More

Did You Know? at Okaw Valley HS

News Progress Posted on by

•May 20, 2020•
Okaw Valley High School has been offering a “Did you know?” social media project over the last school year.
These items were included recently:
The 2020 Senior Okaw Valley High School baseball players were 69-19 in their high school career entering the 2020 season?
Did you know OVHS has a brand new athletic complex which consists of a brand new baseball field?
Did you know that since the beginning of the 14-15 season, which ended in a 4th place finish at state, the baseball team has a record of 120-31... a .741 winning percentage?[/s2If]