The Washington County Health Department is all over the county this week with flu clinics. Walk-in flu clinics will be conducted at the Washington County Health Department today from 9 to 11 AM and 1 to 4:30 PM today. They will be on the road the rest of the week, at the Okawville Senior Center tomorrow from 9 to 11:30 AM and 1 to 4:30 PM. On Thursday morning, they will be at the Ashley Community Building from 8:30 to 10:30 in the park building and in the afternoon at the Oakdale Senior Center from 1 to 3. Flu shots are $25 and will be at full strength by the time the flu season begins to peak.
It was a big day and night at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois on Saturday with the Preview of Champions High School Marching Band competition. It was mostly bands from Illinois, but there were bands from Missouri high schools representing all 6 classes. Class 1A through 3A competed during the day and the Grand Champion is Murphysboro High School. Class 4A through 6A competed at night and the Grand Champion is Belleville Township High School East. Bands were judged on their music, marching, general effect, percussion and color guard. In Class 1A, Carlyle was first; in Class 2A, Murphysboro was first, followed by Salem and Centralia; in Class 3A, Mater Dei was 2nd; in Class 4A, Collinsville was first, followed by Marion with Freeburg 4th; in Class 5A, Triad was 3rd and Nashville was 4th; and in Class 6A, Belleville East won. Between sessions and at the end the McKendree Marching Bearcats entertained the audience. After each band performed, they were able to watch their performances and get tips on what to work on for future competitions. There will be another competition in Pinckneyville near the end of October. For Nashville, it was a chance to show off their brand new uniforms for the first time after getting them on Friday.
The Washington County Animal Control has plenty of dogs for adoption. The oldest is 3 years and the youngest at 8 months in age. There are no cats available at this time. Dog adoption fee is $30, which includes an A.V.I.D. identification chip. In addition, new owners will receive a certificate for $50 off spaying or neutering. They also accept aluminum cans at the shelter, located at 17,990 Richview Road in Nashville. For more information, call 327-4800, extension 355.
A new survey shows six out of 10 Illinois adults don’t know about the new Illinois health insurance marketplace launching today, or that it will offer eligible people financial help paying the cost of insurance. The survey was released yesterday by the nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund on the eve of the first day of enrollment for new insurance benefits under President Barack Obama’s health care law. The random sample telephone survey of 470 Illinoisans was conducted July 15th through September 8th. The Illinois marketplace is called Get Covered Illinois. A $33 million ad campaign to promote it has been slow to start in Illinois with state officials choosing a gradual rollout focused on a mid-December deadline for people who want their insurance coverage to start January 1st.
It was another light month for precipitation in Washington County in September. According to readings taken by the Washington County Water Department, only 1,79 inches of rain fell, which is slightly higher than the 1.78 inches that fell in August. Last September there was 9.89 inches of rain that fell. Comparing the year to date totals, there has been 36.66 inches of rainfall this year, which is now more than all of last year’s 35.88 inches. Temperatures were very high and chilly for September. The high was 97 degrees on the 1st two days of the month, with the heat index making it feel as if it was over 100 degrees. The low was 52 degrees on September 14th and 22nd for a range of 45.
Prospects of a federal government shutdown could affect thousands of workers at Scott Air Force Base in southwestern Illinois. Spokeswoman Karen Petitt says the threatened partial shutdown that could begin after midnight may mean two-thirds of the base’s 5,000 civilian workers could be furloughed. They wouldn’t receive pay as long as the shutdown persists. The remaining one-third of the civilian employees on the 13,000-worker base would be exempt. They draw their salaries and operational funds from sources unrelated to the shutdown. The air base serves as a global mobility and transportation hub for the Defense Department. Petitt says that effort largely will press on during any shutdown.
The Nashville Police Department answered 8 emergency calls in the past week. Calls ranged from assisting the Washington County Sheriff’s Department to domestic disturbances to thefts. On Friday night, the NPD made an arrest and issued some citations for Illegal Transportation of Alcohol and Illegal Possession of Alcohol by a Minor. 19-year old Dylan R. Justin of Sandoval was arrested, while a 17-year old from Salem, Kevin J. Haar Junior of Germantown and 18-year old Kourtney B. McIntosh of Odin were only cited.
Illinois State Police Officials announced that a list of all currently approved concealed carry firearms training curricula is now available on the ISP website at www.isp.state.il.us. Approved curricula are ready for use and available for all skills required by the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act, such as firearm safety; basic principles of marksmanship; care, cleaning, loading and unloading of a concealable firearm; transportation of a firearm; and instruction on the appropriate and lawful Interaction with law enforcement while transporting or carrying a concealed firearm. Approved instructors with access to approved curricula, may begin instruction immediately. The Department has also updated its approved firearms instructor registry that includes a wide range of instructors who have met all eligibility guidelines and requirements. A week ago, only Alan Wiggers in Nashville was the only one approved, but now many more have had their paperwork approved and that includes John LaBusier of Nashville, Wendy Bromley of Carlyle, John Wittenborn, Michael Hooks and Alan Bryan of Pinckneyville and Brian Hansen of Aviston.
Illinois State Police Officials announced that a list of all currently approved concealed carry firearms training curricula is now available on the ISP website at www.isp.state.il.us. Approved curricula are ready for use and available for all skills required by the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act, such as firearm safety; basic principles of marksmanship; care, cleaning, loading and unloading of a concealable firearm; transportation of a firearm; and instruction on the appropriate and lawful Interaction with law enforcement while transporting or carrying a concealed firearm. Approved instructors with access to approved curricula, may begin instruction immediately. The Department has also updated its approved firearms instructor registry that includes a wide range of instructors who have met all eligibility guidelines and requirements. A week ago, only Alan Wiggers in Nashville was the only one approved, but now many more have had their paperwork approved and that includes Wendy Bromley of Carlyle, Mark Hamilton of Trenton and Brian Hansen of Aviston.
The Southern Illinois University system’s governing board is poised to take the next step in its search for a replacement for the university’s retirement-bound president. The Southern Illinoisan reports the executive committee of SIU’s Board of Trustees will meet tomorrow to name an advisory panel and hire an outside search firm. Glenn Poshard announced in July that he plans to retire next June, even though his contract expires in 2015. The advisory committee will include representatives from SIU’s Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses. Poshard will have no formal role in the search. Poshard is a former five-term congressman who has led the university since 2005.
Ground has been broken on a new hospital near the southern Illinois town of Pinckneyville, even as officials await a decision from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on financing for the $30 million project. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place Monday on the planned 83,000-square-foot Pinckneyville Community Hospital. CEO Thomas Hudgins tells The Southern Illinoisan that he hopes the financing piece will be in place later this month for the new hospital that’s being built on 33 acres the hospital owns near 5,500-resident Pinckneyville. There’s also with room for expansion if needed. The project was delayed in 2010 when the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development declined to back financing, determining that the hospital was unnecessary. WSIL-TV reports the new hospital should be ready for patients in about a year.
Women in Illinois aren’t making as much as their male counterparts in the workforce, but they aren’t doing so bad. That’s according to the Center for American Progress, which gives the state a “B plus” when it comes to giving women a fair shot at success. According to their data, women are making 79-cents for every dollar a White male makes. Of course that number drops to about 66-cents for African-American and
Hispanic women. Overall, Illinois comes in at number 13 for treating women fairly and is ranked higher than any of its neighboring states.