•March 31, 2020•
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed that a patient being treated at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient is a woman in her 50s who presented to the emergency department at St. Mary’s on Wednesday, March 25, and we received a positive confirmation for the virus that causes COVID-19 on Friday, March 27. The patient’s condition is stable. The patient is under quarantine and receiving care at the hospital.
St. Mary’s Hospital is providing all care precautions for our colleagues and patients in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and IDPH.
“We have a multidisciplinary team onsite that is continuing to keep our colleagues prepared,” said Mike Hicks, president and chief executive officer for St. Mary’s Hospital. “We continue to ask the community to do its part by practicing social distancing, washing their hands and doing all they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to ensure that we will continue to be prepared to care for those most in need during this time.”
The hospital continues to implement numerous precautions to identify any potentially infected persons and prevent illnesses from spreading. As a reminder, St. Mary’s has implemented a no visitor policy with few exceptions.
Curbside Pickup
Photo by R.R. Best
Curbside Pickup
Many local restaurants have stayed open during the pandemic by offering curbside pick up. Pictured above are Feliciano Juarez and Jose Veracruz of Sol Del Mar ready for the next delivery.
Election Drop Off Streamlines Moultrie County Vote for Judges
Virus Requires Innovation
•March 25, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
The Tuesday, March 17 election was met with challenges created by COVID-19, but Moultrie County completed the primary without incident and in record time.
The first precincts were delivered to the courthouse at 7:31 p.m. and the final precincts arrived at 8:26 p.m.
Of the 8,422 registered voters in the county 2,378 voted for a 28.24% turnout.
One measure that was taken to protect election judges was the County Clerk’s office had drive up service. Each precinct’s judges drove to the west door of the courthouse, the official packets were gathered by courthouse personnel allowing election judges to go home rather than wait inside the courthouse.
“We did this to protect the election judges,” County Clerk Georgia England said, noting once they delivered final packets they went home without entering the courthouse. Read More
District Discusses Plans During the COVID19 Pandemic
•March 25, 2020•
By Ariana Cherry
for The News Progress
Practicing their social distancing by sitting six feet away from each other, the ALAH School Board met Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm with the principals not in attendance.
Before discussing the agenda, Darren Powell of Lovington who is on the Lovington Board of Trustees and serves with the Lovington ambulance service, approached board members about possibly making the old football field at the Lovington Grade School a designated landing zone for Medevac helicopter. Currently, the ambulance has landing zones in Arthur and Sullivan. Superintendent, Shannon Cheek, suggested that they come up with an intergovernmental agreement before moving forward.
Powell will return in April with an agreement that the board could look at. Read More
Allenville Votes
Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Allenville Votes
Heidi Feist(l) and Betty Wilson, election judges, assist voters in Allenville. Turn out was light with less than 170 at Allenville as compared with over 400 Allenville voters in the last election. Election judges were charged with hourly cleanings of touch screens, pens, plastic folders, voting cubicals and even the door knobs! Many of the voters wore plastic gloves and or masks as the pandemic created chaos at the polling places.
Courthouse Under Limited Access With Virus Threat
•March 25, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Stopping short of an emergency declaration the Moultrie County Board voted to limit access to the courthouse and its offices until further notice.
In special meeting held March 20 department heads were encouraged to conduct essential county business by appointment to limit courthouse traffic in an effort to inhibit spread of the coronavirus.
Judge Jeremy Richey noted public access is needed to the courts offices for emergency orders of protection and bail hearings in serious cases. Read More
V.F.W. Recreation Donation
Photo by Mike Brothers
V.F.W. Recreation Donation
Sullivan V.F.W. Post 6410 donated $1000 to the city of Sullivan Park and Recreation Dept. Summer Recreation program. The V.F.W. continues its community support with this five annual donation to the kids summer recreation program. The $1000 check presentation was made at the Sullivan V.F.W. post: (from left)Commander Russell Craig, Park and Recreation program directors Melissa and Jake Haegen and Post Chaplain Bill Hagen.
Sullivan City Council Meets to Establish Emergency Procedures
•March 18, 2020•
By Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council’s special session at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 dealt with the emergency created by the COVID-19 virus.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook emphasized the purpose of the meeting is to implement procedures allowing the city to be eligible for federal and state emergency service funding due to conditions created by coronavirus related closings.
The announced school closings by Governor J.B. Pritzker Friday prompted the city to close the civic center and library on Friday.
City administrator Dan Flannell emphasized the city and school district are working together to be sure parents and students understand that the closings are meant to keep students from congregating. Read More
County Board Deals with Rapidly Changing COVID 19 Situation
•March 18, 2020•
By David McCabe,
Moultrie County Board Chairman
As chairman of the Moultrie County Board, I am statutorily responsible for the management of disasters that occur in Moultrie County, working with the ESDA Coordinator, first responders and other officials.
Together we determine the best course of action to take. We have a meeting scheduled this week with officials from each municipality in the county to learn how best to help them.
The coronavirus has the potential of being the largest disaster in Moultrie County while I have been board chairman. However, now is not the time to panic, it is the time to be smart. If you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus or any other health issues, STAY HOME, call your healthcare professional to seek arrangements for treatment and possible testing. If you feel healthy but are one of the vulnerable groups of individuals to coronavirus, STAY HOME. If you have concerns about contacting someone with Coronavirus, STAY HOME. If you are experiencing severe health issues, call 9-1-1. Read More
Wash Your Hands
Photo by R.R. Best
Wash Your Hands
One of the best things to help prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus is to wash your hands, Moultrie County Health Dept. Director Angie Hogan advised county board members last week. School closings, bars, restaurants and any gatherings over 50 people have been canceled in an effort to slow the spreading.