The First United Methodist Church in Pana will be hosting a Blood Drive on Wednesday, September 2nd from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm at 619 Kitchell in Pana. Because of COVID-19 and to help maintain social distancing it is recommended that all donors make an appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org. Walk-ups will be accepted if there is any availability. 
 
Potential donors should wear a face covering and if you are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms or were recently exposed to the virus you are asked to refrain from donating. 
 
Donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 years old with the permission of a parent, you must weigh at least 110 pounds, you must have a photo I.D., and you must not have given blood within the past 56 days.
 

Public health officials are worried that COVID is keeping people from getting necessary vaccines. According to the CDC 40,000-50,000 adults in the US die from vaccine-preventable illnesses or complications from them. There is concern that this year will see even more, as many people, especially older people won’t leave the house. OSF Healthcare physician Raj Patel says that with flu season coming, the need for vaccinations is now.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and everyone is encouraged to make sure vaccines are up to date. The CDC has an assessment tool which you can find by clicking here. For adults who have chronic health conditions, getting a pneumonia shot may not prevent COVID-19, but could help you from getting really sick.

Adults should also be wary of shingles especially if you are over the age of 50.

Dr. Patel says that between mid-September and early October is the best time to get your flu shot as that will ensure that you are protected by the height of the flu season which peaks between December and February. According to the OSF, fewer than half of all Americans (47%) received a flu shot last year. 

Kristin Hayden with HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville says that with kids going back to school, it’s important to make sure that kids know how to properly wash their hands.

Hayden went on to say that it’s important to make sure that you’re washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and you can help your kids keep track of time by having them singing a song. 

You should wash your hands or use hand sanitizer throughout the day, according to Hayden.

It’s also important, according to Hayden, to keep a normal sleep schedule.  

Kristin Hayden was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The first ever Shelbyville Fall Festival will take place on October 17th and they’re currently looking for vendors, according to event organizer Cheryl Schultz.

The event will take place from 10-3 and Schultz said that the deadline to sign up to be a vendor is September 17th. 

Schultz said that they came up with the idea for the Fall Festival to help out the downtown businesses that have struggled so much over the past few months.

There will be a chili cookoff at the Fall Festival and there will be cash prizes for the top winners.  

Cheryl Schultz was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The Effingham Performance Center was one of the first businesses that had to close due to COVID-19, according to Executive Director Kim Jansen.
 

The Effingham Performance Center did hold some outdoor movies during the month of July, but the focus, according to Jansen, has been on finding ways to bring the arts to the community while still practicing social distancing. 
 

The Effingham Performance Center is holding a socially distanced event series including an upcoming adult comedy show on September 12th.

They will also be having Clue on stage October 8th - 11th and then they’ll also be having a Rising Stars Music Showcase to help raise scholarship money for music students. The first showcase will take place on October 17th.  

For more information on any of these upcoming shows or to purchase tickets please visit the-epc.org. Kim Jansen was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The Moultrie County Health Department has confirmed their first COVID-19 death and second outbreak in the county. A Moultrie County male in his 70’s died from COVID-19 late last week. Angela Hogan, Moultrie County Health Department Administrator, issued a press release with the news. “We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one. During this time of grief in respect to the family’s privacy, we are not releasing any additional information.” 

The MCHD is also reporting that 10 residents and staff associated with an outbreak in one of the Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) homes. All individuals are isolating at home and the facility is working closely with the MCHD and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

For the week of August 28th, MCHD reported 25 additional cases of COVID-19, and over 155 have tested positive in the county for the virus. 19 Moultrie County residents remain in isolation with 4 in the hospital. The Moultrie County Health Department is encouraging all residents to watch physical distance, wear a mask, wash hands, and above all else, stay home if ill.

Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more on COVID-19 and visit taylorvilledailynews.com for the all of the latest coronavirus updates around the listening area.

Christian Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency or Chris-Mont EMA, released an update on the COVID-19 outbreaks at Life’s Journey Senior Living and the Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center. As of Friday evening, Life’s Journey Senior Living of Pana has 9 residents and 6 staff members that have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab has 33 residents and 12 staff members that have tested positive for COVID-19. The residents of both facilities that have tested positive are isolated while staff members that are positive are quarantined. 

Both facilities are asking communities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands. Life’s Journey has 16 residents while Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab has 82 residents. 

Chris-Mont EMA reported over 35 new COVID-19 cases from Friday and the weekend. 
 

A Kincaid man is in custody after a search warrant led to several charges on Saturday morning. Taylorville Police Department conducted an investigation of suspected methamphetamine sources in the Taylorville area and other surrounding communities. After gathering enough evidence and working with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney Mike Havera’s office, the Taylorville Police were able to get a court authorized search warrant. 

After conducting the search warrant in Kincaid, Taylorville Police arrested Adam Passoni of Kincaid for several charges including possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and possessing a firearm without a FOID card. Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler said in a press release, “TPD will track the source down that is poisoning our City. It takes a City working with police to make it safe. Taylorville is a great place to live and work, we must stop the drug trade.”

The investigation is still ongoing.

The Montgomery County Health Department will be holding a COVID-19 Drive-thru testing site in Litchfield at the Litchfield Community Center.  Testing will be done Thursday and Friday, September 3rd and 4th from 9 AM until 5 PM. It is open to anyone or any age and no appointments are necessary. Insurance is not required. No out of pocket expenses will occur for this testing. 

The Montgomery County Health Department asks for patience and to follow the signs when you go to get tested. The Litchfield Community Center is located at 1100 South State Street in Litchfield. For any questions, contact the Health Department at 532-2001 or The Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Multiple counties in the Regional Radio listening area have been moved into the “warning level” for COVID-19. Fayette, Sangamon, and Shelby County have been moved into the warning level. A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk factors indicate that COVID-19 has increased.

30 counties in Illinois were in the warning level on Friday morning. IDPH uses indicators for documenting COVID cases. These are the metrics that the State uses to determine when a county is at a warning level. New cases per 100,000 people, number of deaths, weekly test positivity rates, ICU availability, Weekly emergency department visits, weekly hospital admissions, tests performed, and clusters are all factors that are observed.

The IDPH is concerned that people are not practicing social distancing, they are gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. Cases connected to schools are also being reported and on the rise. The Chris-Mont EMA is asking all Christian and Montgomery County residents to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Miller Media Group Radio Stations in Taylorville, and Tradewind Energy's Rolling Farms Wind Project, are co-sponsoring the naming of a weekly Christian County "Educator of the Week" starting September 1.

From September First thru October 13th, nominations will be accepted thru the Facebook pages of taylorvilledailynews.com and the 4 music stations.

Those nominated must be an educator from any Christian County public or private school.

The educator honored each week, will be interviewed by the Miller Media Group with a story airing on the 5 stations and posted on taylorvilledailynews.com.  They'll also receive a 100-dollar Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce gift certificate from the Miller Media Group and Tradewind Energy.

You're invited to "Celebrate Christian County Educators Together" as the 2 entities co-sponsor this special recognition.

The Clinton J. Hornbuckle Memorial Sand Volleyball, Bags tournament, and silent auction was a gigantic success, according to Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce CEO Patty Hornbuckle.

Hornbuckle went on to say that they’re still figuring out exactly where the money will go, but that the mission of the Clinton J. Hornbuckle Foundation is to support youth sports within Taylorville.

Taylorville isn’t where they should be in regards to the Census, according to Hornbuckle.

The Christian County CEO Program, according to Hornbuckle, is crucial for the future of Christian County.  

Patty Hornbuckle was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The recent Christian County 4-H Virtual Fair was about as good as it possibly could be, according to the University of Illinois 4-H Youth Development Educator Sara Marten.

The University of Illinois Extension Office, according to Marten, is currently discussing how they can improve upon any future virtual fair. 

The University of Illinois has started to give the Extension Office some guidance on resuming in-person gatherings, according to Marten.

The new 4-H year starts on September 1st and the first few months will be focused on enrollment, and virtual workshops.  

Sara Marten was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

Lincoln Land Community College is doing classes in a variety of different ways this year, according to Taylorville Director Dee Kruger.
 

There are a variety of new rules, according to Kruger, to make sure that everyone stays safe. 

Class sizes at LLCC are smaller to allow for enough social distancing. The smaller class sizes did occasionally mean that some students did miss out on classes, but LLCC has started something called Late Start. 

Late Start classes start on September 21st, according to Kruger and they’re 12 weeks in length instead of the normal 16 weeks.  

Dee Kruger was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

Another outbreak of COVID-19 is hitting a nursing facility in Taylorville. Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab, reports that nine residents and one staff member have tested positive today for COVID-19. The facility which has had 23 residents test positive for COVID-19, has already had one resident recover and one pass away. Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab has had 6 staff members test positive for the virus so far, with two recovered. 4 staff members are currently quarantined at home.

Ashley Davis, Executive Director of the Facility, says that they continue to regularly test. “We continue to regularly test all of our residents and staff at Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab to allow for early detection of COVID-19 which allows for quick treatment to begin if anyone starts to display symptoms or tests positive. The residents that have tested positive are isolated in our COVID-19 unit, and the staff members that have tested positive are quarantined at home.”

If you are a family member you can get updates on any new COVID-19 cases at the facility and recorded updates on the COVID-19 hotline at 875-1975. 

The Christian County Health Department continues to encourage the wearing of facemasks, distancing, and handwashing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For more information, you can contact the Christian County Public Health Department at 824-4113 or the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Chris-Mont EMA continues to update Regional Radio News on the status of area long term care facilities that are dealing with outbreaks of COVID. Life’s Journey Senior Living in Pana has had 8 residents and 6 staff members test positive for COVID-19. All residents and staff continue to be tested. The residents that have tested positive are isolated and staff members that are positive are quarantined at home.

Life’s Journey Senior Living continues to work hard for resident and staff safety according to a press release from the Chris-Mont EMA and works to protect its vulnerable population against the virus. Life’s Journey is a residential memory care facility in Pana that houses 16 residents. 

The Christian County Health Department continues to encourage the wearing of facemasks, distancing, and handwashing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For more information, you can contact the Christian County Public Health Department at 824-4113 or the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Two employees at a long term care facility in Fayette County have tested positive for COVID-19. Two employees from the Sarah Bush Lincoln Fayette County Hospital Long Term Care facility tested positive for the coronavirus. All residents and employees have been tested and they have all come back negative other than the two employees. 

Employees are quarantined and contact tracing is being conducted by the Fayette County Health Department. In compliance, with the Illinois Department of Public Health, all long-term care residents and staff will be tested every seven days until they are 14 days without a positive test result. Afterward, the facility will test every 14 days.

Outdoor visits are currently suspended until the facility has achieved 14 days of no new cases. Family members and friends may still conduct window visits, Facetime, and Facebook messenger visits. The staff is willing to help set those up. 

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Fayette County Hospital Long Term Care Facility thanks everyone for their full support during this time.

What we know about COVID 19 has changed since the virus first arrived in the USA. The methods for treating it have changed as well.  Dr. Doug Kasper, an Infectious Disease physician with OSF healthcare says providers have gotten better at identifying patients who may be at risk and recognizing symptoms of COVID19 quicker. 

Kasper says that physicians have started using convalescent plasma, saying that the benefits outweigh the risks. Screening for pathogens goes a long way towards health and safety.

Kasper says that originally the methods used were to try to prevent patients from ending up on ventilators. The new strategy involves proning—putting patients on their stomach.

Kasper says that they have not seen the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.

Looking into the future of COVID-19, Doctors are now starting to use an anti-viral medication called Remdesivir.

The medicine changes on a regular basis, but doctors are working hard to stay at the forefront of the pandemic.

State Senator Andy Manar is in full support of the Secretary of State’s Office extending driver’s license expiration dates for seniors over the age of 75. Senator Manar says it is a big step towards protecting our senior citizens and our loved ones from getting COVID exposure.

For drivers 75 and older, the driver must have a valid driver’s license to qualify. Drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked don’t qualify for the one-year extension. The Secretary of State is sending out letters to all those eligible. 

If you are under 75, driver’s licenses have been extended until November 1st, 2020. To reach the facility in Taylorville, call 824-3006. For more information, click here. 

The 2020 Census is critical for the city of Taylorville, according to Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry because of the many different benefits it helps provide the community. 

The Census doesn’t just have an impact on money that Taylorville will receive, but it will also impact who represents the city at the state and federal level. 

Mayor Barry will be at the Food Pantry and the Farmers Market on Saturday with census forms for you to fill out. 

The Census is not only important for Taylorville, but also for Christian County and the State of Illinois, according to Mayor Barry.  

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

Senior Life Solutions at Taylorville Memorial Hospital was designed to help senior citizens through difficulties, according to Registered Nurse and Director Amy Graham. 

Senior Life Solutions is for those 65 and older who have Medicare, according to Graham. 

Patients are coming into Senior Life Solutions 4 days a week. 

Patients start their day at Senior Life Solutions at 9 AM by filling out paperwork and then they work in various group settings, according to Graham.  

Amy Graham was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

Taylorville Police are warning of phone message text scams. The scam comes with a message similar to this: “We found a parcel from May owed to you. Please claim ownership and confirm for delivery here.”  By clicking on the link, you can allow hackers to get into your phone and do damage or get personal information. The message can come from different phone numbers but be the same overall.  

If you receive a message like this, do not click on the link, delete the message, and block the number. According to a survey done by TrueCaller, 1 in every 6 American Adults have lost money to a phone scam in the past 12 months with over half of those who have been scammed reporting they were a victim more than once. In 2018, 43 million Americans lost over $10.5 billion in scams.

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been identified at Life’s Journey located at 340 IL-29 in Pana. The Christian-Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency or EMA, has confirmed that there is an outbreak at the long term care facility. Life’s Journey currently has two residents and three staff members who have tested positive. The facility has been working hand in hand with the Local Health Department and Chris-Mont EMA. All residents and staff are currently being tested.

Life’s Journey staff continues to thank everyone for their support, kind words, and prayers. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Christian County Health Department at 824-4113 or the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Nestor Lopez is the owner of Nesty’s Burger Joint a new restaurant coming to the Taylorville square and his favorite part of the restaurant business is the people. 

Nesty’s Burger Joint is located at 114 W. Market Street and he’s excited to bring Taylorville residents something they haven’t seen before. 

Lopez hopes to be open by November, but a lot depends on what’s going on with COVID-19. 

The menu will include everything you would expect from a burger restaurant and much more.  

For more information on Nesty’s Burger Joint please find them on Facebook. Nestor Lopez was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

The State of Illinois revised guidelines for restaurants and bars on Monday as the State tries to reduce the amount of new COVID cases. The latest guidelinse will require patrons to wear masks during ANY interaction with wait staff, food service workers, and other employees at bars and restaurants.  Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth when patrons are approached and served whether it’s from orders, delivery of food, and when tables are serviced.

New guidelines go into effect on Wednesday, August 26th. Governor JB Pritzker says face coverings will be required both indoors and outdoors. 

The Governor urged Illinoisans to step up if they are going to eat out to protect restaurant employees.

You can find out more on the new guidelines by clicking here.

Seniors aged 75 and older will have some extra time to renew their driver’s licenses. Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, announced Monday, that the expiration date for valid driver’s licenses held by Illinois drivers who are 75 years of age or older has been extended for a year past the current expiration date.  This is to help older people not have to visit the driver’s facilities in order to keep exposure to COVID down until at least 2021.  Illinois Secretary of State spokesperson Dave Druker says this is a way to help reduce long lines as well.

Druker says that if you qualify for this you’ll get a letter in the mail.

There are 147,000 drivers who are aged 75 and over who have expired or near expiring driver’s licenses in 2020. The Secretary of State is asking drivers to keep that letter with them as further proof of the extension. 

As always visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com to take advantage of online services.

The start of the RNC Convention according to nationally syndicated radio host Jim Bohannon struck a much more optimistic tone than the DNC Convention. 

Senator Tim Scott gave a very effective speech on day one of the RNC Convention, according to Bohannon. 

Bohannon went on to say that the momentum is with President Trump and that is due in part to the silence of democrats in regards to the violence in the streets. 

There are various items that will decide the upcoming election, according to Bohannon, including the state of the economy and the debates.  

Jim Bohannon was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

The Christian County Health Department will be holding a COVID-19 Drive-thru testing site in Pana. At the Tri-County Fairgrounds on August 31st and September 1st from 9 AM until 5 PM, the health department will be testing for the coronavirus. It is open to anyone or any age and no appointments are necessary. Insurance is not required. No out of pocket expenses will occur for this testing. 

The Christian County Health Department asks for patience and to follow the signs when you go to the fairgrounds. The Tri-County Fairgrounds is located at 605 N 2500 East Road in Pana. For any questions, contact the Health Department at 824-4113 or The Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Pana Mayor Don Kroski wants more residents of Pana to fill out the census because it’ll have a huge impact on the federal dollars that they’ll be eligable to receive over the next decade. 

The State of Illinois in 2016 alone received over $34 billion in Census funding, according to Kroski. 

Mayor Kroski went on to say that there’s no reason not to fill out the Census. 

If you want to receive the funding necessary to continue the health and education programs, than you need to register with the Census, according to Mayor Kroski.  

Pana Mayor Don Kroski was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

The $1.5 million dollar Fast Track Grant that the City of Taylorville received for the repair of East Main Cross was made possible by, according to State Senator Andy Manar, the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois plan. 

The Fast Track Grant, according to Senator Manar, invests in infrastructure that helps small businesses. 

The East Main Cross project has to be started within 90 days of the award, according to Senator Manar. 

The Business Interuption Grant Program (BIG) is a federal program that was a part of the CARES Act goes to the businesses that have difficulty qualifying for other programs.  

Illinois State Senator Andy Manar was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

The Taylorville Park District met for a light August agenda but one of the main discussions was brought up by Recreational Director Bailey Hancock on the opening stages of either renovating or getting a new city pool. Hancock said in the meeting that a feasibility study must be done first.

Hancock says the current pool that’s there is over 50 years old and has been renovated quite often.

Hancock knows that this is not something that’s going to be done right away.

Other things that happened at the park board meeting, included an update on the 30-day notice for public inspection of levying necessary taxes for the new fiscal year. Superintendent Gary Brown said they are continuing work on the Manner’s Park ponds as well. The next Park Board meeting is set for September 28th. 

A Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA) employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The MCHA which is located at 216 Shelbyville Road in Hillsboro, tested positive for the virus and immediately notified the Montgomery County Health Department along with the Chris-Mont EMA. Contact tracing was initiated and individuals that may have been in contact were notified. The MCHA closed to the public and will be closed to in-person traffic for the rest of the week until August 28th. 

After a deep cleaning, the office will be reopened on Monday, August 31st with a limited staff. You will still be able to reach the MCHA office by calling 217-532-3672. Residents can still contact maintenance as need be for emergencies. As always continue to monitor your health and if you feel ill contact your physician for further guidance. For more information, contact your health department at 532-2001 or the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Demolition of the former building of Taylorville Memorial Hospital is almost complete.   Hospital officials say the job should be finished in September, and then the final phase of new construction will begin.  The new building will house administrative offices and support staff for TMH.

A child is dead in Bethany after a house fire on Friday. According to the Bethany Fire Protection District, on Friday, the Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire in Bethany with reports of injury. Upon arrival, assistance was requested from the Sullivan Fire Protection District. Nearly 20 firefighters battled the blaze at 302 North Elm Street in Bethany. 

Firefighters were informed there was a child napping in a bedroom when the house caught fire. When the child was brought outside, CPR was performed, but the patient was in full arrest.  5-year-old Alaina Nicole Jarnigan was pronounced dead on Friday afternoon at St. Mary’s Hospital at 3:02 PM. 

The McLean County Coroner’s Office performed the autopsy and after it was completed, it was revealed that the cause of death was carbon monoxide intoxication due to the smoke from the fire. There was no indication of traumatic injury, no evidence of foul play, and no non-fire related injury to the child. The Moultrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Fire Marshal are still investigating this incident and an inquest is pending.

A Decatur man is dead after a fatal motorcycle accident in Stonington on Saturday afternoon. On August 22nd, at 4:21 PM, Christian County 9-1-1 received a call for a traffic crash at 1900 East and 2300 North Road in Stonington. Dispatched in the accident was the Stonington Fire Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Stonington Police Department.

Upon arrival and investigation, it was noted that the vehicle crash involved a Ford SUV and a Kawasaki Motorcycle. The Ford was traveling Southbound on 1900 East Road. The motorcycle, driven by 80-year-old Larry D. Yochum of Decatur, was traveling westbound on 2300 North Road.  The two vehicles collided and Yochum was pronounced dead on the scene by Christian County Coroner Amy Winans. 

An autopsy was held on Sunday and preliminary results indicate that he died of blunt force injuries. Toxicology results are still pending and the investigation is being handled by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office along with the ISP Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Having a baby can be a stressful time and many parents don’t need COVID adding on to that stress level. Mary Grimm, who is a baby nurse manager through OSF healthcare says that especially during the pandemic, should follow the 3 W’s.

Grimm also says to stay home as much as possible right now especially if you can have friends assist you with errands. 

According to Grimm, avoiding and screening visitors can also prove a world of difference between keeping your newborn safe.

All in all, Grimm stresses, the most important thing is keeping your baby and most importantly, you, safe.

For more information, click here.

The Taylorville Park Board will meet on Monday evening at 7 PM at the Manners Park Dining Hall. The board will approve July minutes, go over the Treasurer’s report, along with hearing of any correspondence or guests. 

Under new business, the board will go over a 30-day notice for public inspection of levying necessary taxes for the fiscal year of 2020-2021. There will also be a maintenance superintendent update from Gary Brown, an update from the office administrator and secretary Mary Ann Becker, and from the Recreational Director Bailey Hancock. The meeting will also include an update from the finance committee.

The next meeting is set for September 28th.

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest is just about the only festival that is going ahead with planning, according to Chamber CEO Patty Hornbuckle.

Hornbuckle encouraged those who are uncomfortable putting themselves at risk of COVID-19 to not come to Chillifest.  

Rachel Cox will be holding a Children's Miracle Network "Hot to Trot" Color Run Chillifest weekend in Manner's Park, according to Hornbuckle. 

Chillifest will take place the weekend of October 3rd and 4th on the Taylorville Square. For more information on Chillifest please visit chillifest.info. That’s Chillifest with two L’s. Patty Hornbuckle was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

There is concern from top leaders in the Illinois Department of Public Health, that Illinoisans are getting tired of hearing about COVID and will stop practicing safety measures. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the IDPH, spoke late last week about COVID and expressed her concern over “COVID fatigue.”

Dr. Ezike went on to warn that we as Illinoisans cannot stop being defensive despite getting back to normal.

Governor JB Pritzker is asking for local officials to step up to give stiffer penalties for those who don’t follow guidelines.

Over 215,000 people have had COVID in Illinois with 2,200 new cases reported on Friday alone.

Pana Community Hospitals LiveWell Fitness Center is getting ready to celebrate their 10th anniversary and Manager John McQuillan says that they’re taking every possible precaution to keep members safe from COVID-19.

The LiveWell Fitness Center does require everyone to make an appointment. 

McQuillan went on to say that masks are required within the facility unless you’re doing a high intensity workout. 
 

The LiveWell Fitness Center has started to offer some classes virtually, according to McQuillan.  

John McQuillan was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

Christian-Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency gave an update on the outbreak of COVID-19 at the Taylorville Skilled Nursing And Rehab Center.  The facility, which is located at 800 McAdam Drive in Taylorville currently has nine residents and three staff members who have tested positive. All residents and staff have already been tested. 

Some test results are still pending. The Taylorville Skilled Nursing And Rehab Center continues to work with the Christian County Health Department and the Emergency Management Agency. For any questions or concerns, please contact the EMA at 532-9560 or the Christian County Health Department at 824-4113.

The City of Taylorville is receiving a grant of $1.5 Million to help redevelopment projects within the city. The improvements are part of a Fast Track program from the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity. Senator Andy Manar says that this started during lats spring’s budget negotiations.

“The past few months have had devastating effects on communities that were already underserved.  Through the FastTrack program, the State is not only bringing jobs to those communities, but we’re also prioritizing long overdue construction projects. I commend Governor (JB) Pritzker for his continued commitment to ensuring the vitality of the downstate economy during this difficult time.”

The project will be used to repair East Main Cross Street, Improve curbs, gutters, and ADA ramps, and rehabilitate utilities along East Main Cross Street from Walnut Street.

The FastTrack Program is putting over $39.5 million into new grants for 27 projects across the state. Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry says that he didn’t think Taylorville would get it and thanked the Governor.

Mayor Barry says that this should help to further develop that area of town.

Being able to continue to work to improve the roads has been a big task for the Mayor

The project will have to be put out for bid before it starts, but Mayor Barry is excited to get started on it as soon as the city can. 

Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp announced that they are no longer allowing in-person visitation at the Christian County Jail to keep everyone safe from COVID-19, but the inmates are allowed video visits. 

COVID-19 is causing everyone a whole lot of stress. Sheriff Kettelkamp is thankful to live in Christian County and is grateful for all of the support that the Sheriff’s office receives. 

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office budget has been cut a lot over the years and Sheriff Kettelkamp is extremely concerned that COVID-19 will cause his budget to be cut even further. 

Sheriff Kettelkamp says that he is in need of more officers and more training, but given the budget constraints that’s quite difficult to accomplish.

Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

The Christian County CEO Program is hard at work. They had their first in-person meeting yesterday at the office which is located in the US Bank building in Taylorville. They’ll meet remotely on three days a week and in-person two days a week, according to Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce CEO Patty Hornbuckle. 

Hornbuckle went on to discuss the city of Taylorville receiving the $1.5 million dollar Fast Track grant to repair East Main. 

De Michiel Floors and More’s Grand Opening is Saturday, August 22nd from 10-5. 

The Safe Passage Program is in desperate need of drivers, according to Hornbuckle. If you’re interested in being a volunteer driver for the Safe Passage Program, please call Denise Evans at 777-0080.  

Patty Hornbuckle was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

A Moultrie County Health Department employee has tested positive for COVID. The Moultrie County Health Department received notice of a COVID-19 exposure in its office. For the safety of those the department serves and to reduce the risk of further spread, the MCHD will be closed to the public through Thursday, August 27th. 

The Health Department will remain partially staffed available for calls during regular business hours. Angela Hogan, Moultrie County Health Department Administrator, says that they will continue to serve the County to the best of their ability. Staff and Services will remain available by phone Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM and from 1 PM until 4:30 PM. You can reach the Moultrie County Health Department by calling 728-4114 if you need to schedule an appointment or obtain immunization records, information, or other assistance.

Hogan continued to stress doing your part. “To every person in Moultrie County, the MCHD Staff greatly appreciates your patience and understanding during this challenging time. We are in this battle together, and our staff will continue to do our part to assist you in every way possible. Please do your part to protect each other and reduce the burden which COVID-19 places on our residents, schools, businesses, and communities.”

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce today announced that it's received its maximum 20 entries for the 2020 Little Miss Chilli Pepper contest, which is part of the annual pageant being held on Saturday, October 3rd during the 2-day event.

Entries are still being accepted for the Little Mister, Junior Miss, Teen Miss, and Miss Chilli Pepper contests.  

Entries must be submitted on-line, with rules and instructions on how to enter, available on the event's web site, chillifest-dot-info, that's chillifest with 2-L's.

A Taylorville woman is in custody after a search warrant revealed drugs. On Thursday morning, Taylorville police executed a search warrant at 2 East Lawn Drive in Taylorville.  The search warrant was executed at 6 AM at a house belonging to 41-year-old Megan R. Lynn. 

During the search, Lynn was located and detained. During the search, several items were recovered including scales, baggies, and items that showed drug sales. Chief Dwayne Wheeler issued a press release thanking the Community Action Team and the citizens for continuing their hard work to help Taylorville. Chief Wheeler also thanked the States Attorney’s Office for approving charges and the search warrant.

Lynn is charged with possession of methamphetamine and Meth Delivery.

The Miller Media Group's WRAN groovy 97.3 today donated some $1100 to the Taylorville Kiwanis Club, which was half of the total sales from the club's recent WRAN Kiwanis Radiothon.

The Miller Media Group and the Taylorville Kiwanis Club have teamed up to raise money for local Kiwanis projects for children and youth, thru the annual Radiothon, for over 20 years.

Kiwanis treasurer Blain Cornwell told Regional Radio News the club has several on-going projects right now.

Kiwanis member Martin Vota chaired this year's Radiothon Committee, and secured some $2200 in sponsorships from local businesses to promote their business in the day-long event which has been re-scheduled to air on WRAN groovy 97.3 Thursday, September 3rd.

Kiwanis members will be celebrity announcers that day, delivering sponsors' messages.

Eli Heicher is the Chief Nursing Officer at Taylorville Memorial Hospital and he says there is no reason to be nervous to go to the Emergency Department at TMH.

ER visits are starting to bounce back, according to Heicher, but a lot of the patients that are coming in have been much sicker on average than they have been in the past. 

Heicher does understand the anxiety about visiting the ER, but that the processes that TMH has in place are solid after months of practice. 

Everyone that enters the Emergency Department is screened, including the TMH employees, according to Heicher.  

For more information on Taylorville Memorial Hospital please visit taylorvillememorial.org. Eli Heicher was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

Members of Montgomery County along with State Senator Andy Manar are working to help families affected by the Coffeen and Canton power plant closures. When the Coffeen Power plant closed nearly a year ago, Senator Manar had already started working on ways to help the families and local government figure out a way forward.

Senator Manar knows that this is not a quick fix. “We know from firsthand experience that the coal industry has been a key cog in the downstate economy for decades.  But, we also know that we have to be realistic when it comes to the industry’s current condition. Welcoming solar energy infrastructure would create jobs and undo some of the damage done to the local economies in Coffeen and Canton, but that’s not an immediate solution to the problems these people have right now.”

One proposal that Senator Manar is pushing for includes property tax assessments on coal, gas, and nuclear plants to be frozen at pre-closure rates for five years. The plan would also ensure local governments and school districts would have a consistent source of revenue and protect those who are laid off from a plant or mine with extra unemployment benefits. 

Senator Manar is hoping to put together a package for energy legislation this fall.

The City of Taylorville is getting LED street lights. According to Ameren’s Communications Executive Brian Bretsch, the city of Taylorville is set to get the new lights free of charge starting on August 24th. Depending on weather, it should be complete by the end of the week. Bretsch says Ameren is going to be replacing 100 streetlights with LED’s that used to be sodium vapor. The process started in July of 2017. 

Bretsch says this will save the city money but there are many benefits to switching to LED’s.

Bretsch also says that the LED street lights make things easier on the eyes to see.

By the end of the year Ameren is hoping to have replaced 50,000 streetlights throughout central and southern Illinois.
 

The first day of school for students in the Taylorville School District was on Wednesday and Superintendent Dr. Chris Dougherty is excited for school to be back in session despite things starting out remotely.

The new social and emotional counselors are going to have a huge role in the start of school in Taylorville. 

Remote learning will be significantly different this school year, according to Curriculum Director Anita Brown. 

Remote learning is especially difficult for younger kids. Grades K-2 will be using a program called Seesaw to stay connected with students and families, according to Brown.  

For more information on the Taylorville School District please visit tcusd3.org. Dr. Chris Dougherty and Anita Brown were both guests on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

The Christian County ZBA continued to debate during the WECS text amendments in the debate on wind turbines.  The Committee was looking at the last few items including inclement weather and how that affects wind turbines. Committee member Joe Dorr expressed concern over ice.

Protect Christian County is asking for the wind turbines to be shut down when there is inclement weather. Dorr and Steve Sipes continued the discussion.

Jim Griffiths from Invenergy says that when winds reach a certain limit they shut off immediately.

In the end the board asked for a better definition written for the special use permits to include terms like icing. The committee led by Sipes would be looking at asking the board to make an amendment to the recommendation when it got sent back to the Christian County Board.

The next ZBA meeting is set for Tuesday, August 25th at 6 PM. 

Summer may be coming to an end, but Life’s Journey Senior Living Sales Director Connie Young says that we still need to keep a close eye on our loved ones on those hot and humid days.

If you do have to work outside during the extreme hot weather make sure you take regular breaks, drink plenty of water, and if you feel faint rest in a cool place. 

There are also numerous conditions that can make you more susceptible to the heat, according to Young. 

Connie Young was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

There is a need for blood donations in Central Illinois, according to Taylorville Memorial Hospital President and CEO Kim Bourne. 

TMH is sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, August 20th from 11am until 6pm. Donations will take place at the University of Illinois Extension Office and not at the hospital because of COVID-19 and the ongoing construction. The U of I Extension Office is located at 1120 N Webster St. in Taylorville.

You must sign up for an appointment to donate blood. If you do wish to make a blood donation you can call 824-1836 for an appointment. 

Giving blood is a wonderful way to give back to the community and even though the blood supply in Central Illinois is in good shape, according to Bourne, donations are still needed to make sure it stays that way.

Kim Bourne was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

With the Taylorville School District moving to remote learning to start the school year, the Christian County YMCA, according to Executive Director Chris Weittenhiller, will be offering all day daycare with remote learning for school aged children.

There are numerous requirements that the YMCA has to follow, according to Weittenhiller. 

Children have to wear facial coverings whenever possible and Weittenhiller was concerned about that, but so far it has gone really well. 

There are five different spaces within the YMCA for groups of 15 kids each, but because of the health requirements that the YMCA has to follow, the cost of the service had to be raised slightly.  

For more information on the Christian County YMCA please visit ccymca.org. Executive Director Chris Weittenhiller was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

Local officials are pushing for mask wear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christian County Board Chair Becky Edwards, Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry, and Pana Mayor Don Kroski are pushing for mask-wearing, encouraging social distancing, as well as hand washing and cleaning of common touch areas.  

Greg Nimmo issued a press release from the Chris-Mont EMA encouraging mask-wearing. “We are not defenseless. Cloth face coverings are one of the best things we have available to us to slow the spread of this or any airway related virus while out in public locations, particularly when used community-wide.”

There is a concern of COVID cases on the rise in the local communities. Christian County has six of its nine long term care and assisted living facilities that have active virus cases. According to the press release, states that many people are asymptomatic and carry the virus without realizing it.

One concern, according to Nimmo is a concern of the growing spread of COVID with the flu season on the way and that it could put a strain on hospitals. Christian County’s two local hospitals do not have any ICU beds.  Region 3 shows that there are 71 of 150 ICU beds available over 19 counties. If you contract the virus and have complications you will be moved to an ICU bed outside of the county and will not be able to have family members at your side due to the fear of it spreading.

For more questions please contact your local health departments or the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis was recently released from his COVID-19 quarantine and said that his life changed for those few weeks.

Even though Congressman Davis was quarantined at home, his Congressional Office didn’t really change anything. 

Congressman Davis has been to three different political conventions and to see the DNC Convention done virtually it just doesn’t seem like it’s happening. 

There are a number of different conspiracy theories out there, but one of the biggest ones, according to Congressman Rodney Davis, is the conspiracy surrounding the USPS.

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The Christian County Board met on Tuesday evening. Under committee reports, Philip Schneider talked about the courthouse and jail repairs especially the fountain project.

Under the executive/liquor Matt Wells spoke about a discussion on listing appointed boards and their membership on the county website.

Budget hearings were approved for new dates for continuing their discussion. The Emergency Declaration was extended through September 15th. Attorney fees were completed for the ZBA WECS hearing and final advisory report. 

Kathy Fergin was appointed to the Christian County Health Board to fill the vacancy term of Margaretha Strawn after her resignation.

The next Christian County Board meeting will take place on September 15th. 

The Christian County Board met on Tuesday evening to discuss committee reports. The discussion got rather heated during a motion for a vote on accepting a final Comprehensive economic development strategy or CEDS. A CEDS is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. 

After Shelby County dropped out of the main plan, a question was raised about Rodney Davis or Avery Bourne calling into the finance committee to give their thoughts on it. The motion on the CEDS failed 2-3 in the finance committee. Although the motion failed in the finance committee, it was brought up to the board by Committee Chair Clark Pearce asked for a vote on the stead on an economic plan helping local municipalities to get a 50/50 grant if they wanted. After Pearce asked Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry to speak, Council Member Matt Wells asked why the public was getting a chance to speak when it was a board issue. The public could speak but not until after all the board had finished their discussion.

Dale Livingston said that it shouldn’t even come to the board if it was voted down at the finance level. Chairwoman Becky Edwards attempted to bring in Mary Renner head of the Christian County Development Corporation.  Renner never got a chance to speak though as Dale Livingston again asked that Robert’s Rules of Order stated that it needed to go back to committee since it failed.

Vicki McMahon said it was fine that there are guests, but that board members needed to speak first. There were questions about wind that board members felt hadn’t been answered yet. Chairwoman Edwards said that she was deferring to Mayor Barry and Renner.

Edwards explained her position on the issue saying that she was approached by doing something with all 6 regional counties.

Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Carlson said that it can’t be voted on if it was downvoted in committee. The motion to table was passed with 11-4 vote.  Finance Chair Clark Pearce had a stern message for those who voted.

The motion was sent back to the finance committee to continue the discussion.

To hear this whole section of the Christian County Board click below.

The Morrisonville American Legion will be hosting a Community Blood Drive on Wednesday, August 26th from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm at 607 Ricks Street inside the Legion Hall. Because of COVID-19 and to help maintain social distancing all donors need to make an appointment by calling the Central Illinois Community Blood Center at 241-7550 or by visiting bloodcenter.org and use the code 60031. 

Potential donors will be required to wear a face covering and if you are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms or were recently exposed to the virus you are asked to refrain from donating. 

Donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 years old with the permission of a parent, you must weigh at least 110 pounds, you must have a photo I.D., and have not given blood since at least July 1st, 2020.  

There has been some amazing progress with demolition of the old building at Taylorville Memorial Hospital according to President and CEO Kim Bourne. 

The building should be completely demolished by the first week of September, according to Bourne, and then they can get to work on the next phase of the building project.

TMH did make a few changes to the plans for phase 2 because of COVID-19, according to Bourne. 

COVID-19 has taught TMH a lot, according to Bourne, so in the new cafeteria and kitchen they will be adding additional hand washing stations and making a variety of other changes as well to keep people safe.

TMH CEO Kim Bourne was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The Christian County Board will meet remotely on Tuesday evening. To join the online meeting visit https://join.freeconferencecall.com/christiancounty. The Dial-in Number is (701) 802-5367 and the ID is 7943957#. The meeting will take place at 6:30 PM. On the agenda will be public comments, reading of communications, and committee reports. 

Under committee reports for highway/building will be highway business and an update on the courthouse including the courthouse boiler, fountain project, and other updates. 

Under executive/personnel the board will discuss appointed board and their memberships on the county website, they will approve the holiday schedule for 2021 and discuss and approve an agreement with Montgomery County over a hold harmless agreement.  The board will also accept the final Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy report.

Under Audit/Finance, the board will approve claims, continue the budget hearing, approve attorney fees to complete the WECS hearing and report, accept bids from delinquent tax property in Pana Township, and update on board room electronics.

Under new business, the board will extend the emergency declaration proclamation through September 15th. Kathy Fergin will be appointed to the Christian County Health Board to fill the vacancy left by Margaretha Strawn.

The next County Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 15th.

Late last week Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry and the Lake Committee got together to have a discussion about potentially privatizing the Lake, and they will continue to meet and discuss different ideas at their upcoming meetings. 

Mayor Barry did clarify that the City of Taylorville will not be selling the Marina.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about what city finances will look like over the next few months, but the preliminary numbers are positive, according to Mayor Barry. 

At the first August City Council meeting there was a lot of discussion about the Alderman being more involved in the hiring process. Mayor Barry said that it is his job to appoint the Superintendents and encouraged the Alderman to reach out to the nominees.  

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

A local area State Representative has been given an award by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce for contributions towards growth in enterprise. Representative Avery Bourne has been named a Champion of Free Enterprise for her contributions to the defense of free enterprise, and the furtherance of policies that promote job growth and economic opportunities for Illinoisans.  

The Illinois Chamber rated all members of the General Assembly based on their votes on business legislation and awards were given to members ranking 85% or higher in the last two General Assemblies.  Representative Bourne scored a rating of 95%. 

Votes are selected based on the impact on the business community and aren’t weighted. Bourne says she’s proud of her work with businesses. “I’m proud of my record of supporting policies aimed at job growth and economic opportunity in Illinois and it is a privilege to be recognized for that work. Our Illinois businesses drive our economy and create jobs in our communities.”

To see the scoring metric for all members of the House and Senate click here.

Central A&M Superintendent Dr. DeAnn Heck had to make a difficult decision over the weekend to start the school year remotely because of a recent COVID-19 outbreak in the community. 

The school year will be done remotely through at least Friday, October 2nd.

Teachers and staff are working hard to get everything moved to remote learning and Dr. Heck expects to be able to pass out electronic devices on Wednesday. 

If your family has poor internet access or no internet access at all, hot spots will be available when you pick up your devices. 

This was an extremely difficult decision for Dr. Heck, in part because of the difficult situation it puts parents in.

Dr. DeAnn Heck was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show
 

The Taylorville City Council met on Monday evening and the biggest order of business was the recognition of Taylorville Police Officers who had recently been promoted. Sergeants Alan Mills, Christian Nelson, and Wes Withrow, and Detective Christopher Adams were recognized for their achievements. Lake Superintendent Geoffrey Ortman was also sworn in along with Cemetery Sexton Mike Tennent.

Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler said that with these promotions he is able to have a Sergeant on duty for every shift.

Chief Wheeler also praised Detective Christopher Adams and looks forward to what he can bring as a detective.

Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry again encouraged people to take the census as it helps out the city of Taylorville and can get the city more funding.

The City Council had two members absent: Aldermen Chris Skultetty and Kathy Driskell. Under Emergency Services the board approved preventative maintenance for truck 1. along with purchasing two Knox boxes.  A motion was approved to hire one additional police officer and to advertise for a full-time dispatcher. All voted yes except for Alderman Larry Budd.

Under Lake/Airport, a motion was approved for a request for a tent camping area to be relocated, along with the approval of the money collected from adding a second camper to the Lake Lots. 

Under Water/Environmental a motion was approved to purchase two feed pumps and to approve a service agreement with HACH.

The next City Council Meeting will take place on September 7th.

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest Committee held their monthly meeting Monday night at the Chamber office, to further their plans for the 35th annual event on the Taylorville square October 3rd and 4th.

Committee chair Greg Hornbuckle told Regional Radio News after the meeting, that this year's Chillifest will have a different look than past years to make attendees feel safe.

Monday night's meeting reported that there are already 16 Little Miss Chilli Pepper contestants, one Little Mister contestant, 9 Junior Miss contestants, 2 teens and 3 Miss Chilli Pepper contestants for the October 3rd pageant on the south stage.  Entries are being accepted on-line by clicking the link in this story on taylorvilledailynews-dot-com.

Over 30 arts and crafts vendors have signed up for the weekend, and Chillifest is again looking for volunteers to assist in making this year's event happen.  To become a volunteer, call the Greater Taylorville Chamber office at 824-4919.

2 days of International Chilli Society-sanctioned judging is again part of this year's Greater Taylorville Chillifest, and cookoff chair Tim Calvert said entries were already coming in.  Information on entering the sanctioned judging is available at the event's web site, chillifest-dot-info, that's chillifest with 2-L's.

And, a new event will happen the same weekend to further attract people to Taylorville.  Local organizers will hold a Children's Miracle Network "Hot to Trot" Color Run that weekend in Manner's Park.  Information on entering will also be available at chillifest-dot-info.

Chris-Mont EMA is tracking multiple COVID-19 cases in Christian County on Monday evening. There is an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Taylorville Care Center located at 600 South Houston Street in Taylorville.  As defined by the IDPH, an outbreak at a long term care facility is defined as two or more positive COVID-19 cases of staff or residents due to the higher-risk population. The Taylorville Care Center currently has one resident and two staff members who have tested positive. 

There is also a COVID-19 case reported at the Christian County State’s Attorney’s Office.  CCSAO is working closely with the Health Department to complete contact tracing. Additional COVID disinfecting protocols are being followed. Staff will be reduced over the next 14 days due to COVID-19 protocols.  If you were briefly at the CCSAO you would not meet the exposure guidelines of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, therefore your risk is quite low.

The Chris-Mont EMA encourages handwashing, social distancing, wearing of masks, and the cleaning of common touch areas frequently.  As always, contact your local health department if you have any questions.

The next Taylorville City Council meeting will take place Monday evening. The meeting will take place at 7 PM and will recognize some Taylorville Police Officers including Alan Mills, Christian Nelson, and Wes Withrow along with Detective Christopher Adams. The Aldermen will get an update on the 2020 census. There will also be an oath of office taken by new Lake Superintendent Geoffrey Ortman and Cemetery Sexton Mike Tennant.

Ordinances will be discussed concerning the airport manager, Taylorville City Code on the Cemetery, and a look at the Sunset Avenue Extension.  Some motions that will be discussed include a motion to extend the remaining summer help to the maximum limit of 599 hours to be paid out of the 2% Utility Tax Ward, a motion will be brought forward to remove the freeze on the 2% Utility Tax Ward spending.

Under committee reports, there will be a motion to recommend the Fire Chief to proceed with preventative maintenance and to purchase new Knox Boxes.  Under personnel, there is a motion to recommend hiring one additional police officer and to advertise for a full-time dispatcher.   Under Lake/Airport, there is a motion to approve a request for the tent camping area to be relocated, and approval of the money collected from adding a second camper to the Lake Lots. Under Water/ Environmental there is a motion to approve the purchase of two feed pumps and to approve a service agreement with HACH.

As always there will be city attorney and Mayoral updates from Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry.

For some teachers, COVID-19 may be the final straw for them not coming back to the classroom. They may have underlying health issues or may live with family members who have COVID. Going back to the classroom right now for teachers that have these factors may not be an option or may be too risky. 

The Golden Apple program is helping accelerate future teachers and get them roles in the classroom to help fill some of those shortages. President of Golden Apple, Alan Mather says that this program is important now more than ever. 

Mather said that even through Golden Apple, they’ve had to make adjustments due to COVID.

Mather says that he has many goals for the Golden Apple program moving forward.

For more information on Golden Apple and the Accelerators program, visit: www.goldenapple.org/accelerators.

Small businesses are getting more assistance from the government after a new business grant got approved. State Senator Andy Manar announced the first phase of funding for small business assistance through the Business Interruption Grant program or BIG. The BIG program provides financial assistance to business communities that were hit hardest by COVID-19 related closures. 

A total of $790,000 will be distributed to local businesses including $30,000 to Assumption and $20,000 to Taylorville.  The first rounds were disbursed last week.

Senator Manar says that this is something that can create solutions for the problems that COVID-19 has left. “The Business Interruption Grant program is an example of what is possible when legislators do their job and create tangible solutions to the problems facing our state. Government is supposed to work for those we represent first and foremost, and I’m proud that we are doing everything possible at the state level to help our small business community stay afloat.”

To see a full list of 48th District businesses that have received grant money, click here.

A vehicle accident on Route 51 in Assumption is causing traffic to be rerouted on Saturday Morning. Regional Radio News is still working on details but avoid the area if possible and use caution if you approach Assumption.

The downtown improvement plan is coming to an end in Shelbyville, according to Shelby County Office of Tourism Director Freddie Fry, and that has her excited for the future.

If you are having a public event in Shelby County, make sure the Office of Tourism knows about it. They will share that information with the public free of charge.

If you haven’t been able to visit the Visitors Center, you should consider doing so to get the most up to date information in regards to fishing, hunting, and any upcoming events in Shelby County. 

Freddie Fry was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The first day of school can be difficult for a lot of kids, so Monica Cameron, the Director of the Shelbyville Public Library, has a number of books that can help your little one with those first day of school jitters.

A lot of the books that address the nerves that kids may have on the first day of school talk about how the first day of school is the first experience a young child has without a family member or loved one with them, according to Cameron. 

The Shelbyville Public Library also has a number of resources available that can address the social and emotional needs of children. 

Monica Cameron was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Shelbyville Superintendent Shane Schuricht has been busy this summer preparing for a return to in-class learning.

When it came to putting the transition plan in place, there were a number of different requirements that the Shelbyville School District had to include and a number of different groups that had to be consulted.

The transition plan was recently released by the Shelbyville School District is subject to change based on the guidance that they receive from ISBE and health officials. 

The Shelbyville School District sent a survey to parents and the results were surprising.  

Shane Schuricht was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

August 14th, COVID-19 numbers as of noon, look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

All reports are from health departments over the last 48 hours.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that as of noon on Friday in Christian County, 2 new cases were reported making the positive total 167.  6,912 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 5 deaths and 94 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont is reporting 4 new cases pushing the positive total to 181.  Over 7,700 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 23 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 7 new cases making the positive total 95. Just over 2,362 people have tested negative in the county, where there have been 2 deaths and 26 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 27 new cases pushing the positive total to 99. There have been 2,371 negative test results reported with no deaths and 32 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 60 new cases making the positive total 1381. There have been 36 deaths with 542 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 1 new case making the positive total 72. 2,693 have tested in total in the county with 14 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 53 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 707. There are 344 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 5.7% as of August 10th.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 2.6% as of August 10th.  

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

Entry forms for many of the events and activities at the 35th annual Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest, are now available on-line.

By going to chillifest-dot-info, that's chillifest with 2 L's, you'll find downloadable entry forms for 2 days of International Chilli Society chilli judging along with the form to be a judge, arts and crafts vendor spaces, the Little Chilli Bean baby contest, and the form for local businesses to be a sponsor of this year's event.

This year's Greater Taylorville Chamber Chillifest takes place on the square October 3rd and 4th.  Further information on the event, and the final schedule, will also be available on-line at chillifest-dot-info.

In a time when teachers are needed now more than ever, one program is helping people achieve that goal. The Golden Apple program which helps with teacher residency and licensing announced that their inaugural class of Accelerators featured 30 future teachers who are ready to fill positions throughout the state. The need for teachers is great, as there were 1,800 unfilled educator positions this last year in Illinois alone. 

Golden Apple President Alan Mather says that the program has been running for over 30 years and that the one-year residency program helps understaffed districts fill some of those positions. 

After talking to Superintendents across the state, Mather learned that there was a need from Superintendents for teachers now.

Mather announced that the first inaugural class was a success.

Accelerators have been placed at several schools including South Fork Junior/Senior High School in Kincaid.

With the majority of schools starting the year remotely, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator for Christian and Montgomery County Rebecca Livingston will be working virtually to start the school year.

One of the things that Livingston is most excited about being able to offer is virtual farm tours. 

Livingston is still hopeful that they can still hatch chicks in the springtime, but in the meantime she will be putting together ag bags for students.  

Rebecca Livingston was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

No matter where you live in Illinois, the National Weather Service is seeking residents to be rainfall trackers.

The National Weather Service coordinates the website cocorahs.org, a rain, hail and snowfall tracker across the country. Chris Miller with the National Weather Service in Lincoln calls their participants 'citizen scientists'.

Spotters are asked to use a rain gauge through the National Weather Service. Miller explains the rain gauge is a minimal expense and makes sure everyone's reporting tools are uniform.

Using cocorahs.org data has become a regular part of live WHOW programming in the morning. Miller says you will be surprised how you find a tracker will report one total, perhaps sizeable, and another tracker not far away will report a much smaller amount.

Even if someone near you tracks rainfall, Miller says it is not an issue to have another person tracking in that area. 

Visit cocorahs.org - c-o-c-o-r-a-h-s dot org - for the latest in rainfall totals or to learn more about becoming a rain tracker. 

There are numerous events coming up over the next few weeks in and around Taylorville, according to Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce CEO Patty Hornbuckle. 

This weekend Big R will be having an event they’re calling Pet Daze. It will take place on Saturday, August 15th at the store from 10-3.
 

De Michiel Floors and More will be having their Grand Opening on Saturday, August 22nd from 10-5. 

The United Way of Christian County has a golf outing coming up on Friday, August 28th and they’re still looking for golfers and sponsors. 

The Safe Passage Program will be hosting a Steak Dinner and Live Auction at the VFW on October 17th at 5:00 PM.

Patty Hornbuckle was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

State Senator Andy Manar has been keeping busy and today pushed for ethics reform. Senator Manar called on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to consider some new guidelines for Illinois politics in the future. 

Senator Manar is encouraging the Joint Commission to consider the following changes: Term limits on legislative leadership, enacting a policy to remove a legislator as a leader during a criminal investigation or if they are charged/indicted. The Senator is also asking for a one year prohibition on legislators leaving their offices and working as lobbyists, and expanding disclosure of legislators’ outside income. The Senator also wants the Inspector General to self-initiate investigations and making it an independent agency for the purposes of budgets and hiring.

Senator Manar says he believes this should be a bipartisan effort. “This is a list of very simple things that I believe could receive broad support from both Democrats and Republicans and at the same time would have a profound impact on restoring trust in state government.”

The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform will continue to meet until they issue their final report of recommendations at a later date.

Missions For Taylorville has been around for 10 years and originally it was started as a ministry to help with home repairs, according to Pastor Bill Kerns.
 

After the December 1st tornado Taylorville Mayor Bruce Barry reached out to Missions For Taylorville, according to Pastor Kerns, to see if they could help lead the tornado recovery effort. 

COVID-19, according to Pastor Kerns, has had a huge impact on Missions For Taylorville.

For more information on Missions For Taylorville, find them on Facebook. Pastor Bill Kerns was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Moultrie County Health Department is warning of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (SRHCC) located in Sullivan. The announcement came Wednesday evening as 20 individuals associated with the SRHCC have tested positive for the virus. The individuals included are one employee and 19 residents of the facility. They range in age from 20-80.  7 other individuals in Moultrie County also tested positive for COVID as well.

SHRCC has notified all residents of the outbreak and all residents and staff have already completed testing. Everyone who has tested positive or been exposed have been isolated and quarantined for safety. Visitation is currently restricted for the protection of everyone involved.

Moultrie County Health Department Administrator, Angela Hogan is asking everyone for patience. “On behalf of all involved, we at the Moultrie County Health Department understand that this is very stressful for everyone. We ask for your patience, understanding, and support for the Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center and these special members of our community during this difficult time.”

A lot has been learned about COVID-19 since the middle of March, according to Taylorville Memorial Hospital Infection Prevention and Quality Coordinator Travis VanderMeersch.

The primary symptoms of COVID-19, according to VanderMeersch, are fever, cough, and shortness of breath, but those aren’t the only symptoms.

The initial COVID-19 response at Taylorville Memorial Hospital was making sure that they had all of proper CDC and IDPH protocols in place, according to VanderMeersch. 
    

For more information on Taylorville Memorial Hospital, please visit taylorvillememorial.org. Travis VanderMeersch was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

Sheila Yost opened Cottage Rose Gift Shoppe in 2003 because she just didn’t have anything to do.    

Yost has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, by expanding and remodeling the store.

Cottage Rose Gift Shoppe has a variety of different items available for customers, according to Yost. 
    

For more information on Cottage Rose, please find them on Facebook. Sheila Yost was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  

The Safe Passage Program is located in the Taylorville Police Department and according to Coordinator Denise Evans, they are busier than they ever have been.  

Before the program was started, the only option a Judge had was to put an addict in jail or prison, according to Evans, but now they’re able to seek rehab through the Safe Passage Program.

    
The only way that Safe Passage is funded is through donations. They’ll be holding a Steak Dinner and Live Auction on October 15th at the VFW in Taylorville. 
    

For more information on the Safe Passage Program, please find them on Facebook. Denise Evans was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

August 12th, COVID-19 numbers as of noon, look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Tuesday in Christian County, 1 new case was reported making the positive total 165.  6,750 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 5 deaths and 100 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 1 new case pushing the positive total to 177.  Over 7,600 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 17 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 5 new cases making the positive total 88. Just over 2,287 people have tested negative in the county, where there has been 1 death and 24 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 0 new cases keeping the positive total at 72. There have been 2,168 negative test results reported with no deaths and 20 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 51 new cases making the positive total 1321. There have been 34 deaths with 494 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 3 new cases making the positive total 71. 2,567 have tested in total in the county with 16 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 16 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 654. There are 291 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 5.5% as of August 9th.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 2.8% as of August 9th.  

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death in rural Kincaid. On Monday morning at 10 AM, Christian County 9-1-1 received a call and upon investigation with the Kincaid Police Department, contacted the Christian County Coroner’s Office. 

62 year old Dale W. Basil of Kincaid was pronounced dead on the scene by the Christian County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy was held in Bloomington with the cause of death being asphyxiation by hanging.  The Christian County Coroner’s Office and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the incident. 

If you are feeling depressed or lost and need someone to talk too, please contact 1-800-273-8255 or text "HOME" to 741741. 

An employee for the City of Nokomis has tested positive for COVID-19. According to a press release from the Christian Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, The City of Nokomis immediately notified the EMA and the Montgomery County Health Department to identify any individuals who may have come in contact with this employee.

Any city employee or member of the Nokomis Emergency Response Community who may have been in contact with the individual is being tested to determine COVID positivity. Chris-Mont EMA assures Regional Radio News that Emergency Services in Nokomis have not been impacted by this. 

If you were at the City Building in Nokomis, you would not meet the exposure guidelines of less than six feet for more than fifteen minutes, so your risk should be low. Continue to monitor your health and the Nokomis City Building is expected to open Wednesday afternoon.

If you have any questions contact the Montgomery County Health Department at 532-2001.

August is a great time of year to replace some of those summer plants that may be struggling with something new, according to Christian County Master Gardener Gwen Podeschi.

If you have some room in your garden, it’s a perfect time to start planting some of those cool season crops.

If you want to extend your garden into the fall, now is the time to start, according to Podeschi. 

Christian County Master Gardener Gwen Podeschi was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  
 

Ray Gates is the Museum Coordinator of the Christian County Historical Society and Museum in Taylorville and his personal favorite display on the museum grounds is the old log house.

The main display on the grounds of the Historical Society is the old Morrison House, according to Gates.

The Christian County Historical Society and Muesum is holding a Prairie Festival on September 12th and they’re working to try and get a Bee Keeper for the festival. 

Ray Gates was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  
 

COVID-19 has had a huge impact both on Angelo’s Pizza in Taylorville and Pizza Man in Pana, according to owner and General Manager J.I. McDowell.    

With the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in Christian County all front room employees are wearing face masks.

At Pizza Man in Pana, McDowell was excited to finally be able to reopen the salad bar, but there are a number of changes that have been made to it though. 

J.I. McDowell was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  

Mail-in Ballot Applications have been sent out to homes in Christian County, but as County Clerk Michael C. Gianasi says, this doesn’t mean you have to vote by mail.

Mail in ballots is not a new concept it’s been in place for many years.

For more information, contact the County Clerk’s office at 824-4969 or visit their website. The Christian County website has information and forms online that you can use and you can check to see if you’re registered to vote. To get more information on this click here.

Ashley Kochniarczyk is the co-owner of The Coffee Can in Taylorville and she always knew that she wanted to work with her hands and also allow her to be creative.  

Ashley’s original thought was to move to Austin, Texas and open up a Food Truck.

Everyone has their own favorite type of coffee that they like. Ashley had planned to travel around Illinois with her co-owner, Nikki to different coffee roasters, but because of COVID-19 that just wasn’t possible. 

To start out, The Coffee Can will be working with Intelligencia Roasters out of Chicago.
 

For more information on The Coffee Can, find them on Facebook. Ashley Kochniarczyk was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  

August 11th, COVID-19 numbers as of noon, look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Monday in Christian County, 1 new case was reported making the positive total 162.  6,667 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 5 deaths and 104 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 0 new cases keeping the positive total at 176.  Over 7,500 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 19 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 4 new cases making the positive total 83. Just over 2,200 people have tested negative in the county, where there has been 1 death and 20 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 0 new cases keeping the positive total at 72. There have been 2,168 negative test results reported with no deaths and 20 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 21 new cases making the positive total 1270. There have been 34 deaths with 507 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 7 new cases making the positive total 68. 2,567 have tested in total in the county with 17 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 15 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 638. There are 280 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 5.4% as of August 8th.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 2.8% as of August 8th.  

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules or JCAR met on Tuesday to discuss the mandate from Governor JB Pritzker concerning businesses, schools, and childcare centers receiving fines if they don’t make customers wear masks. 

After discussion, Governor Pritzker’s lawyer, Ann Spillane was asked from Senator Sue Rezin about the intent of these rules and how small businesses are concerned that they are going to be hurt by this ruling.

Spillane says that the intent is clear. 

Businesses would need to be required to have signs up that say masks are required, along with offering masks and ensure that all employees wear one. 

For violations, businesses would first face education on the rule, followed by a warning, followed by a fine of anywhere between $75 and $2,500. 

JCAR voted on the new rules and voted in favor of them and supporting the Governor after a motion to suspend the rules failed 6-5. The motion would have needed 8 votes to suspend.

The emergency rule is in place for 180 days effective immediately.

Former Taylorville resident Dave McCoy tries to find the funny no matter what is going on. So, when the Christian County Fair was cancelled he was joking around with his friends about holding the Christian County Fair at Lake Taylorville.

McCoy’s joke got a lot of buzz and so he decided to launch Boat Derby 2020 to try and raise some money for charity.

The chairity that McCoy is raising money for is the Denise Marie Flaherty Memorial Foundation. 

Dave McCoy was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

Many people are looking at going on trips to escape from the summer humdrum and to go on regularly planned vacations, but with COVID-19, just how safe is it to go on a trip? The CDC says the best way to prevent COVID-19 is to stay home, but if you are going to go make sure to wear a mask, avoid close contact, and wash your hands often. 

OSF HealthCare Infection Prevention and Control Director, Lori Grooms says that there are many online tools to help assess your risk before travel—especially if you are going to another state or country. One area you should always look at is the positivity rate.

Grooms says that you should avoid travel if that positivity rate has been increasing over the last 7 days.

Grooms also stressed that your risk increases dramatically if the rate of new cases per day is exceeding 15 per 100,000. If you are traveling, Grooms warns, to take your time when it comes to making deals online to make sure you read the fine print and hammer out all the little details before paying.

For more information on online tools, click here. 

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) has an important, but not often discussed job. According to Illinois State Representative Avery Bourne, JCAR will meet this week to discuss the recently proposed new rule from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

More and more House and Senate Democrats have called for Speaker Madigan to step down from power, but according to Rep. Bourne it’s not a surprise that so far he has refused to do so.

The lack of transparency from the Pritzker Administration in regards to the COVID-19 relief from the federal government is troubling and Representative Bourne thinks that there needs to be hearings to look into it. 

There needs to be more transparency and House and Senate Democrats should have never given the Governor the ability to spend this money without any oversight.  

Illinois State Representative Avery Bourne was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

The Taylorville School District met on Monday evening for their August School Board meeting. Dr. Dougherty, who recently had surgery, was unable to attend, but according to Dr. Stephen Turner, she is home recovering well.

Dr. Turner and High School Principal Matt Hutchison gave a report on online registration, saying that overall, things are progressing well.

An update was given on the Memorial Drainage Project. Steve Walters gave an update on the project and says there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. 

The Next School Board meeting is set for September 14th.

The Chris-Mont EMA is confirming an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Prairie Rose Health Care Center located at 900 South Chestnut Street in Pana. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, an outbreak at an assisted living facility is identified when there are two or more positive COVID-19 cases. The Health Care Center currently has two staff members who have tested positive.

Chris-Mont EMA has also announced a single case of COVID-19 at the Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care Facility located at 1000 East 6th Street in Pana. The Senior Care Facility currently has one staff member who has tested positive. Both Prairie Rose and Heritage Manor have been in direct contact with the local health department and Chris-Mont EMA.

For more information, please contact the Christian County Health Department or the Chris-Mont EMA by calling 824-4113 or 532-9560.

August 10th, COVID-19 numbers as of noon, look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that over the weekend in Christian County, 11 new cases were reported making the positive total 161.  6,622 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 5 deaths and 103 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 8 new cases making the positive total 176.  Nearly 7,500 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 25 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 5 new cases making the positive total 79. Just under 2,200 people have tested negative in the county, where there has been 1 death and 23 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 1 new case making the positive total 72. There have been 2,168 negative test results reported with no deaths and 20 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 88 new cases making the positive total 1249. There have been 34 deaths with 562 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 1 new case making the positive total 61. 2,352 have tested negative with 14 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 24 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 623. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 186 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 5.4% as of August 7th.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.0% as of August 5th.  

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Christian County Historical Society and Museum, according to Museum Coordinator Ray Gates, is holding an event that they’re calling The Prairie Festival on September 12th from 9am until 3pm at the Museum grounds in Taylorville.

The Prairie Festival will have a variety of different events for people of all ages.

There are numerous important buildings and artifacts on the museum campus, but the most important one, according to Gates, is the old Christian County Courthouse.

Ray Gates was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Governor JB Pritzker doubled down on Sunday on his request for the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to support his newest executive order fining businesses, schools, and childcare centers who don’t require their patrons to wear masks. The Governor spoke at a press conference on Sunday saying that American’s want a mask mandate.

Governor Pritzker also says that this is a way to support employees whose bosses may not support masks.

The Governor insists he is not doing this as a political game. He is doing it to keep people safe.

The Illinois Public Health Association has come out in favor of the Governor’s new ruling saying in a released statement, “On behalf of the 88 certified local health departments our association represents, we stand in support of these emergency rules proposed by the governor to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the public.”

The Christian County CEO Program has found their next round of students. Greater Taylorville CEO Patty Hornbuckle explained that the CEO Program was designed for High School Seniors to learn about business.

The CEO students go on business tours, hear from speakers, and meet every weekday morning.

The goal of the CEO Program, according to Hornbuckle, is for these students to come back to Christian County to open up a business.

Patty Hornbuckle was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The Taylorville School District Board is set to meet on Monday evening at 6 PM to discuss new business, old business, hear communications, and go over reports. The meeting will be held virtually except for School Board Members and administrators who may attend in person.  If you would like to join the meeting remotely, contact the district secretary Julie LaBeane at jlebeane@tcusd3.org to request a code to join the meeting.

Under communications, Superintendent Dr. Chris Dougherty will discuss some donations, the School has received. The Consent Agenda will be looked at and approved. There will be a treasurer’s report, along with Consideration of personnel.

Under old business, the Board will receive an update on online registration, review the Memorial drainage project, get an update on the school year plan, and discuss the levy of the 2020 tax distribution received from Christian County.

Under new business, the board will consider a renewal of the district health care policy, look at district evaluators, and set a budget hearing date for the finance committee along with a hearing for the FY21 budget.

The meeting will end with a report from Superintendent Dr. Dougherty.  Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more on this after the meeting is complete Monday evening.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan has refused to step down after the ComEd scandal, according to Congressman Rodney Davis.

The Republican Delegation in Illinois are demanding transparency of the Pritzker Administration after only a small percentage of the federal aid for Illinois has actually been given to local governments.

Recently, Representative Davis introduced Gabby’s Law. Gabby’s Law  is named in honor of Gabrielle “Gabby” Galbo and it would require hospitals in the United States to adopt, implement, and periodically update using the best evidence-based sepsis protocols.

Another law that Rep. Davis was proud to support Sami's Law. Sami’s Law would enact new safety protections for users of rideshare companies.  

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 

The Illinois State Police is investigating a three-vehicle crash that sent multiple people to the hospital. On Friday afternoon at 12:10 on Illinois Route 16 westbound at West County Line Road in Montgomery County, a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Shannon M. Cooper from Gillespie, who had a 15-year-old male in the vehicle, was traveling west. 85-year-old Geneva C. Armour from Carlinville was traveling directly in front of Cooper. Traveling eastbound was 66-year-old Timm L. La Roche from Gillespie. 

Armour slowed down to let a vehicle turn. As Armour slowed down, Cooper failed to reduce speed and struck the rear of Armour. After striking Armour’s vehicle, Cooper went into the eastbound lane and struck La Roche.  Cooper was airlifted to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. La Roche was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  A passenger in La Roche’s vehicle, 61-year-old Ann L. La Roche of Gillespie was also transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The roadway was closed for about one hour during the investigation.

According to the Chris-Mont EMA, the Taylorville McDonalds located at 401 Spresser Street has an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. McDonald's has been following all CDC/IDPH guidelines. Upon notification of the positive case within the McDonalds, management contacted the Christian County Health Department, along with the Chris-Mont EMA. Additional contact tracing was completed by the Christian County Health Department. 

According to the Chris-Mont EMA, every positive case of an employee involving a business that is open to the public gets reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Every scenario is different and there are many outcomes that can affect whether a business closes or not. Things such as building layout, ventilation, contact tracing being done efficiently, and proper cleaning protocols can go a long way towards keeping things open.  In this case, McDonald's is able to stay open, due to its mitigation efforts.

If you recently ate at McDonald's, your risk of exposure would be very low and you do not need to take any further action as you wouldn’t have been less than six feet for more than fifteen minutes. The store remains open after closing overnight for additional disinfection due to the limited case exposure. 

If you have any questions about COVID, please contact the Christian County Health Department at 824-4113.

Representative Avery Bourne expressed her frustration with Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement this morning of fines for businesses, childcare centers, and other places that don’t force people to wear masks inside their work or practice social distancing. Bourne says she opposes it because it’s the Governor going at it alone without going through the legislature.

Representative Bourne says that she is not opposed to rules, but they should be done the right way.

Businesses could face fines of up to $2,500 if people don’t wear face coverings inside.

August 7th, COVID-19 numbers as of noon, look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Thursday in Christian County, 7 new cases were reported making the positive total 150.  6,416 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 4 deaths and 105 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 6 new cases making the positive total 168.  Nearly 7,100 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 23 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 6 new cases making the positive total 74. Just over 2170 people have tested negative in the county, where there has been 1 death and 21 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 2 new cases making the positive total 71. There have been 2,154 negative test results reported with no deaths and 20 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 46 new cases making the positive total 1161. There have been 34 deaths with 501 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 1 new case making the positive total 60. 2,352 have tested negative with 13 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 28 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 551. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 186 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, which encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 4.7% as of July 31st.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.1% as of July 31st. 

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

New restrictions are coming to businesses that may not be enforcing facemask rules. Governor JB Pritzker made the announcement Friday morning in a press conference stating that any businesses, schools, and child care establishments who don’t follow the use of face coverings and gatherings will get a warning, and if need be a fine.

That fine will be anywhere between $75 and $2,500. The Governor made it clear these rules do not apply to individuals but rather businesses themselves.

Governor Pritzker also pushed for the General Assembly to act fast on this and to push through new rules to help the IDPH.

Governor Pritzker also signed into law, increases for paid disability leave for any injury that occurs after March 9th for any firefighters, law enforcement, and paramedics whose recovery may have been hindered by COVID-19. 

The Shelbyville School District has released their reopening plan for the upcoming school year. In-person learning will take place 5-days a week and the first day of school will no longer be on August 17th, but instead will be on August 31st. The school day will be from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM and students will not be able to enter the school building until 7:45 each morning. 

Social distancing will be implemented when possible, no more than 50 students will be in a class or on a bus at any one time, and face masks will be required of everyone inside the school building. 

Remote learning is available to all students through the Edgenuity platform and those who choose remote learning option are committing to it for the entirety of the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.

To view the full back to school plan, please click here. Regional Radio News reached out to Shelbyville Superintendent Shane Schuricht, but he was unavailable for comment.

State Senator Andy Manar says that it is finally time for some real ethics reform in Illinois.

The situation regarding Speaker Michael Madigan is both concerning and extremely distracting, according to Senator Manar.

Speaker Madigan needs to be open to answering questions.

Senator Manar is also encouraging families to please complete the SIU Medicine’s Farm Family Resource Initiative survey. The survey is “aimed to improve a wide range of services that will be available to them from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Farm Family Resource Initiave Program in the coming months.” 

Senator Manar was quoted as saying that, “Farmers and farm families are the lifeblood of our state’s economy, and they face unique challenges. By prioritizing programs like the Farm Family Resource Initiative through a trusted partner like Southern Illinois University, we have the ability to reach out with support during this immensely difficult period.” 

For more information on this program, please visit siumed.edu/farm. Illinois State Senator Andy Manar was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Christian County Zoning Board of Appeals continued their hearings on the wind turbine debate on Thursday evening. One of the first topics was noise levels. City of Roses Wind Energy attorney, Jim Griffiths says that the noise levels are well within the required levels set by the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

Attorney for Protect Christian County, Phil Leutkehans said that one may be at 39 decibels, but all of them together would be closer to 52 decibels—the equivalent of moderate rainfall. 

Griffiths said you would never reach that level, due to not all of them reaching the spectrum and if all of them were running it would be closer to 46 Decibels.

Zoning Codes were discussed. Attorney for the County, Ben Jacobi talked about some of the writing in the zoning code and how it pertained to the wind turbines.

The Board also talked about decommissioning. Chairman Steve Sipes asked Attorney Griffiths about decommissioning and Griffiths said they get repowered not decommissioned. 

The Board will reconvene on August 19th at 1 PM. 

15 students and their parents began their journey into the Christian County C-E-O, or "Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities" program, during an orientation meeting Thursday night at the Kiwanis Park Pavilion on Lake Taylorville.  

Students, their parents, and C-E-O officials enjoyed a light dinner while social distancing, then heard C-E-O board member Mary DelValle, who heads up the orientation meeting each year, speak.  DelValle spoke with Regional Radio News after the meeting saying she told students they're in for a great experience.

C-E-O facilitator Dick Adams then outlined to the students, what their year in C-E-O would be like.  Adams told Regional Radio News after the meeting, that students will learn both about business and life.

For more information on the Christian County C-E-O program, go to christiancountyceo.com.

An area hospital is having to lay off some of its staff due to COVID-19. Hospital Sisters Health System or HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Heart Institute of Illinois made the announcement earlier this month that thy would be laying off about 10% of their staff. Lori Harlan, Divisional Director of Marketing released a statement to Regional Radio News.

In that statement, HSHS says that they had seen a significant decline in the number of patients coming to the facilities due to services not being offered and resulted in negative financial impacts. With the hospital now starting to offer elective procedures and other operations, HSHS has started to bring back a majority of staff that had previously been furloughed.

In the statement, it was revealed that HSHS would not be able to bring back all of the furloughed staff as they would have to prepare for the “best chance for a strong, stable future.”  10% of the workforce was let go due to financial cuts, with a majority of the staff that was let go, being non-clinical. 

HSHS has 15 hospitals between Illinois and Wisconsin and fully owns two Illinois-based physician groups: Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants and HSHS Medical Group.

 

“Hospital Sisters Health System continues to stand proudly behind its entire staff that is providing critically important services as the communities we serve deal with COVID-19. Earlier this year, the pandemic shifted how patients preferred or were allowed to use their local healthcare services, and HSHS saw a significant decline in the number of patients coming to our facilities. That led to negative financial impacts, and we had to make changes to our workforce including furloughs and executive pay reductions. Now that we are able to offer elective procedures again, we’re seeing a rebound in the number of patients coming to us for care, and we are pleased to announce we are inviting back the majority of colleagues that had been placed on furlough a few months ago.

 

However, we are unable to bring back all of these furloughed colleagues.  In order to provide the best chance for a strong, stable future for HSHS through and after this unpredictable pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to reduce approximately 10% of our workforce in Illinois and Wisconsin.  The majority of of these colleagues are non-clinical.  We remain strongly committed to providing high quality healthcare and to making a positive difference in the lives of our patients and our communities, especially in this time of great need.”
 

According to the Chris-Mont EMA, the Taylorville Walgreens located at 315 North Webster Street has an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Walgreens has been following all CDC/IDPH guidelines. Upon notification of the positive case within the Walgreens, management contacted the Christian County Health Department, along with the Chris-Mont EMA. Additional contact tracing was completed by the Christian County Health Department. 

If you recently shopped at Walgreens, your risk of exposure would be very low and you do not need to take any further action. The store remains open after closing overnight for additional disinfection due to the limited case exposure. 

Walgreens asks that you continue to wear a mask when you shop there. If you have any questions about COVID, please contact the Christian County Health Department at 824-4113.

According to the Chris-Mont EMA, the Taylorville Walmart located at 1530 West Springfield Road has an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Walmart has been following all CDC/IDPH guidelines. Upon notification of the positive case within the Walmart, management contacted the Christian County Health Department, along with the Chris-Mont EMA. Additional contact tracing was completed by the Christian County Health Department. 

If you recently shopped at Walmart, your risk of exposure would be very low and you do not need to take any further action. The store remains open after additional disinfection was used due to the limited case exposure. 

Walmart asks that you continue to wear a mask when you shop there. If you have any questions about COVID, please contact the Christian County Health Department at 824-4113.

August 6th, COVID-19 numbers look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Wednesday in Christian County, 12 new cases were reported making the positive total 143.  6,247 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 4 deaths and 98 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 5 new cases making the positive total 157.  Just over 7,000 people tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 19 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 6 new cases making the positive total 62. Just over 2150 people have tested negative in the county, where there has been 1 death and 16 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 5 new cases making the positive total 69. There have been 2,120 negative test results reported with no deaths and 17 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 39 new cases making the positive total 1115. There have been 34 deaths with 486 in isolation.

In Fayette County, they’re reporting 1 new case making the positive total 59. 2,351 have tested negative with 11 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 20 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 523. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 186 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 4.7% as of July 31st.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.1% as of July 31st. 

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a lot of uncertainty in Sullivan, according to Mayor Richard Glazebrook. The most important thing according to Mayor Glazebrook is to keep everyone safe by wearing a face mask.

The one thing we can’t afford, according to Mayor Glazebrook, is to be shut down once again. 

Mayor Glazebrook has talked to various small business owners and a number of them will not be able to shut down once again.  

Sullivan Mayor Richard Glazebrook was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

Liability protection is crucial for schools to be able to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Congressman Rodney Davis.

The decision to reopen schools should be done on a local level and not at the state or federal level.

With some schools starting the school year remotely, child care is on the minds of parents everywhere and with schools deciding to work remotely that puts a huge burden on families and child care providers, according to Congressman Davis.  

Congressman Rodney Davis was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The Illinois Treasurer’s Office under the care of Treasurer Michael Frerichs has now hit a historic landmark.  Frerich’s announced that the state has now returned over 1 billion dollars worth of unclaimed property to owners, businesses, and non-profits.

Frerichs says that unclaimed property is more than just property and accounts.

Frerich’s says it wasn’t easy at first to get to where we’re at now. The whole system needed to be revamped.

Find out more on unclaimed property and how you can search for it by clicking here.

The Christian County Zoning Board of Appeals met to continue their hearing on the text amendments concerning wind turbines. Among the focus on Wednesday night’s meeting, severe weather, setbacks, shadow flicker, and codes. 

Jim Griffiths, Attorney for City of Roses Wind Energy was asked about what the standard procedure is during storms and whether or not the Lincoln radar would be affected by the turbines. Griffiths said that it wouldn’t affect it. 

The board discussed heights and setbacks and talked about setback from districts whether they are incorporated or corporated. 

Shadow flicker was another big topic at the meeting and Griffiths was asked about how to adjust to control shadow flicker.

ZBA chairman Steve Sipes asked whether or not shadow flicker was controlled by the blades or the direction that the turbines faced. Griffiths said it was part of the turbine location design.

The next ZBA meeting is slated for Thursday evening.

US Representative Rodney Davis has tested positive for COVID-19.  The Representative made a post on social media with the announcement. Representative Davis says that he and his wife received tests on Wednesday morning.

Representative Davis says that he was running a fever this morning. After being tested, the staff was tested as well.  His staff received negative tests as did his wife, but Rodney’s test came back positive.

The US Representative said that other than the high temperature he feels fine. 

Below is the complete statement from Representative Rodney Davis via his Facebook page.

“This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. Since the beginning of this pandemic, I have taken my temperature twice daily because serving in Congress means I interact with many people, and it’s my duty to protect the health of those I serve. This morning, my temperature clocked in at 99 degrees Fahrenheit, which is higher than normal for me.

 

Because of the high temperature, my wife and I received a test this morning. While my test came back positive, my wife’s test came back negative. My staff who I’ve worked with in-person this week have received negative tests as well. Other than a higher-than-normal temperature, I am showing no symptoms at this time and feel fine.

 

Having consulted with the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP) of Congress and local county health officials, our office is contacting constituents I have met with in-person within the previous 48 hours, per CDC guidelines.

 

My staff and I take COVID-19 very seriously. My wife is a nurse and a cancer survivor, which puts her in an at-risk category like so many Americans. My office and I have always followed and will continue to follow CDC guidelines, use social distancing, and wear masks or face coverings when social distancing cannot be maintained. 

 

I will postpone public events our office has planned for the coming days until I receive a negative test. I will continue to serve my constituents virtually from home while I quarantine. Our district offices throughout central and southwestern Illinois remain open for constituents as well.

 

During these challenging times, protecting the public health is my highest priority. If you’re out in public, use social distancing, and when you can’t social distance, please wear a mask. All of us must do our part. That’s what it will take to get through this pandemic.”

August 5th COVID-19 numbers look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Tuesday in Christian County, 4 new cases were reported making the positive total 131.  6,010 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 4 deaths and 86 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 1 new case making the positive total 157.  Just over 67-hundred tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 14 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 1 new case making the positive total 62. Just over 2,100 tested negative in the county where there has been 1 death and 15 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 4 new cases making the positive total 64. There have been 2,087 negative test results reported with no deaths and 22 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 15 new cases making the positive total 1081. There have been 34 deaths with 469 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 0 new cases keeping the positive total at 58. 2,350 have tested negative with 12 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 15 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 503. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 184 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 4.7% as of July 31st.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.1% as of July 31st. 

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Taylorville School District, according to Superintendent Dr. Chris Dougherty has made the difficult decision to start the school year fully remote.

The first day of remote learning for students will be on Wednesday, August 19th.

The remote learning plan will be reviewed quarterly, but unlike the Spring there will be some limited in-person opportunities for students.

Dr. Dougherty says that she understands that this decision causes significant disruption for families, but staff and student safety must come first. 

Remote learning will be vastly different than it was in the spring. Grading will be done, attendance will be taken, and material will be sent to families on a weekly basis. 

To hear the full interview with Taylorville Superintendent Dr. Chris Dougherty, please click here. To view the letter that the Taylorville School District sent to families please click here. Dr. Chris Dougherty was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.

The Outpatient Care Center at Taylorville Memorial Hospital offers a variety of different services, according to Nurse Manager Jana Beeler.

The Outpatient Care Center at TMH is open 7 days a week and lab services are available at TMH 24 hours a day,according to Beeler.

TMH also offers a variety of Outpatient Infusion Services, according to Beeler. 

Jana Beeler was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.  
 

It has been a weird summer weather wise, according to National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chris Miller.

Entering spring Miller and his colleagues were expecting a repeat of the Spring of 2019, but thankfully they were wrong.

So far 2020 has been significantly warmer than typical, according to Miller, but this week will be much cooler. 

Chris Miller was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

School meals are a critical part of a child’s health and wellness, according to St. Louis District Dairy Council Nutrition Educator Jill Williams.

School Food Service people are some of the hardest working people and most underappreciated people around.

The importance of healthy snacks cannot be understated and Williams said that it’s important to make sure that your child eats from each and every food group. 

Jill Williams was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The Federal Government is continuing to look at dietary guidelines to figure out better ways to help American’s lose weight. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide nutrition recommendations, are updated every five years by the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.

A new report from the USDA says that 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. Coordinator for Diabetes Education, Tina Canada, says that the new recommendations show that sweetened beverages account for 60% of added sugars in adult diets which is twice the recommended amount.

Canada says that most people don’t realize the amount of sugar and calories that are in the foods and drinks that you consume. She says that something like the large drink at a gas station will easily put you over the daily recommended amount.

The committee also acknowledged that while low-calorie sweeteners can lead to weight loss, the impact only moderately reduces obesity. Canada also continues by stating that artificial drinks can affect a person's palate which may cause people to crave more sugar in other foods to replace that artificial taste. 

Canada says a message can go a lot farther than just taxing or banning drinks.

According to Canada, the best thing you can drink is water. She would like to see “Traffic light” vending machines, that

show a different colored picture for the different products.

For more information click here.

Three charges were filed in Montgomery County Court on Monday against Allan J (AJ) Frayer for a shooting in Witt that left one person dead on Sunday evening. Frayer has been charged with two counts of murder with intent to kill/injure and felony possession and use of a firearm. Bail for Frayer was set at $1.5 million. 

Frayer is accused of murdering 36-year-old Jason S. Newell of Springfield who was staying at Frayer’s residence in Witt. The other suspect Elise I. Rufus was originally brought in for questioning but not charged. 

The Montgomery County Sheriff, along with Montgomery County Coroner and the ISP: CSI investigated the homicide.

Frayer is set for his first court appearance on August 10th. Stay tuned to Regional Radio News for more on this story as it develops.

August 4th COVID-19 numbers look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that on Monday in Christian County, 3 new cases were reported making the positive total 127.  5,895 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 4 deaths and 82 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 0 new cases making the positive total 156.  Just over 65-hundred tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 14 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 2 new cases making the positive total 61. Just over 2,000 tested negative in the county where there has been 1 death and 17 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 8 new cases making the positive total 60. There have been 2,048 negative test results reported with no deaths and 22 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 21 new cases making the positive total 1066. There have been 34 deaths with 468 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 5 new case making the positive total 58. 2,312 have tested negative with 12 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 13 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 488. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 198 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, that encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 4.7% as of July 31st.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.1% as of July 31st. 

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Christian Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency or Chris-Mont EMA is warning of a positive COVID-19 exposure. The First Baptist Church located at 114 Maple Street in Pana has temporarily postponed all in-person services due to a COVID-19 exposure.  The church had previously followed all CDC/IDPH guidelines. The last in-person services were held on July 19th. The church along with the Christian County Health Department and the Chris-Mont EMA continue to work together to ensure the members of the church and the staff are safe. 

If you were previously at the facility during the time of concern, through contact tracing you would have been notified of any further exposure risk per IDPH protocols. If you were not contacted you were determined to not be at risk. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Chris-Mont EMA at 532-9560.

The Taylorville City Council met on Monday evening and all the Aldermen were present. Under ordinances, some street signs were added including a no parking sign on the north side of West Wilson Street, a slow-children at play sign at 3900 East Lakeshore Drive, and a one way stop sign at Fairview Trailer Court. The motion to transfer $300,000 of funds within the Street Department appropriation section was tabled.

Geoffrey Ortman was appointed as the new Lake Superintendent. Aldermen Chris Skultetty asked that these appointments start going in front of everyone and not just Mayor Bruce Barry appointing them.

Mayor Barry urged the Aldermen to use their time and reach out to appointees. 

Mayor Barry had his announcements welcoming new members of the city government, as well as continuing to push for safety for everyone with the coronavirus.

A motion was approved to accept a proposed rate of $65 per hour on all vehicles and equipment and service calls for regular maintenance from Blueville Garage.

The Jayne’s Park easement was finally signed and work will begin on that. Alderman Meg Bryant who is the Aldermen for that ward spoke about the easement and how excited she was to see it finally get approved.

The next city council meeting is set to take place on August 17th.

August 3rd COVID-19 numbers look like this around the Regional Radio listening area.

The Christ-Mont Emergency Management Agency reports that over the weekend in Christian County, 18 new cases were reported making the positive total 124.  5,766 people in Christian County have tested negative. There have been 4 deaths and 79 people are in isolation.

In Montgomery County, Christ-Mont reports 11 new cases making the positive total 156.  Just over 65-hundred tested negative in Montgomery County, where there have been 7 deaths. 11 people are in isolation.

In Shelby County, the health department is reporting 4 new cases making the positive total 59. Just over 2,000 tested negative in the county where there has been 1 death and 24 people are in isolation.

In Moultrie County, the health department is reporting 2 new cases making the positive total 52. There have been 1.957 negative test results reported with no deaths and 18 people in isolation.

Sangamon County is reporting 105 new cases making the positive total 1045. There have been 34 deaths with 450 in isolation.

In Fayette County they’re reporting 1 new case making the positive total 53. 2,096 have tested negative with 9 in isolation.

And, in Macon County, they're reporting 50 new COVID-19 cases making the positive total 475. There have been 13,704 negative tests with 187 in isolation. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Region 3, which encompasses the counties of Christian, Montgomery, and Sangamon in the Regional Radio listening area and counties to the west, shows a positivity rate of 4.7% as of July 31st.  Region 6, includes Shelby, Macon, Moultrie, Fayette, and counties to the east, shows a positivity rate of 3.1% as of July 31st. 

For a complete breakdown of statistics by county, click the "Current Coronavirus Numbers by County" icon at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com. 

The Christian County Board met on Monday at noon for a special board meeting. The meeting was set up to approve additional appropriations for Ben Jacobi to continue to help the County during the Wind Turbine debate. The roll call signified a quorum. 

Ben Jacobi spoke at the meeting, thanking the County for their continued support over the years and talked about the great relationship that his firm and the County had. Jacobi said that the WECS project has been worked on for over 7 months. Jacobi said his role is to advise the chairman and as a point person during the hearings. 

The board had set aside $50,000 for legal fees through July. That money has already been spent but the hearings are still ongoing. Jacobi thinks there will still be at least 2 more meetings. The draft for the revised amendment still has to be written and poured over from a legal standpoint. Jacobi said there was still value to him being there, but he understood if the Board didn’t want to spend more money.

Chairwoman Becky Edwards said that the money would come from the Contingency fund. The board heard from Steven Sikes, chairman of the ZBA. Sikes said that Jacobi’s help has been invaluable and he would hate to see it end. He also said that the hearing would be much longer without his help.

A motion was made to send it to the finance committee. After a discussion, that motion was withdrawn. A new motion was made to transfer $5,000 to Attorney Jacobi for the next two meetings until it could be sent to the finance committee for future consideration. The motion passed. 

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in Witt. On Sunday evening at approximately 6:37 PM, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting that someone had been shot in Witt. 

A Nokomis Police Officer along with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene around 6:55 PM. According to the press release, a wrong address was given so it took several minutes to locate the correct address.  When police arrived at the residence at 103 Vermillion Street, Deputies ordered two subjects out of the house and detained both of them. 

While securing the house, a deceased male was located and identified as 36-year-old Jason S. Newell of Springfield. Newell had been residing at the residence. 

30-year-old Allan J. “AJ” Frayer and 18-year-old Elise I Rufus all of the same residence were taken in for questioning at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Newell was pronounced dead on the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner and an Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator processed the scene. 

Frayer is still being held pending the ongoing investigation. Rufus has been released. The investigation is being considered a homicide involving a firearm. 

Criminal charges are also pending the outcome of additional interviews and physical evidence located at the scene.

Taylorville Police along with the Christian County Coroner’s Office is investigating a death from Saturday morning. On Saturday, August 1st, at 10:11 AM, 9-1-1 received a call of a male subject unresponsive in his residence.  Upon arrival and after the residence was secured, Taylorville police requested the coroner. Christian County Coroner Amy Calvert-Winans identified the male subject as 39-year-old Travis Hunt of Taylorville. 

An autopsy was held on Sunday and preliminary autopsy results show that Mr. Hunt died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation is being handled by Taylorville Police and the Christian County Coroner’s Office.

If you need help, or are feeling depressed you can call the Suicide hotline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or text "HOME" to 741741.

COVID-19 continues to hit the State of Illinois hard, but there are ways for you to take advantage of telehealth resources. State Representative Sue Scherer is urging Illinoisans to take advantage of the Illinois COVID-19 Virtual Care Program. This program is available to all Illinois residents regardless of health care coverage. 

The program provides patients with wellness kits including important medical supplies such as thermometers, pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, alcohol wipes, and masks.  There are also virtual check-ins with doctors and nurses. 

Central Illinois residents who wish to seek to enroll in the virtual care program can text CARE with their ZIP code to 36363 or enroll by calling the virtual care hotline at 866-443-2584.

Representative Scherer made a statement in the issued press release, commenting that  “The Virtual Care Program will allow patients with moderate symptoms to self-isolate and recover at home while still receiving top-quality medical care. These telehealth services will keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, allowing those in need of urgent medical attention to get help immediately.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported on Friday that 11 counties In Illinois are considered to be at a warning level when it comes to coronavirus disease.  A county enters a warning level when it experiences an increase in two or more categories from the COVID-19 resurgence Mitigation Plan. Counties listed on the warning level are Cass, Gallatin, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Perry, Randolph, Saline, Sangamon, St. Clair, and White. 

Warning categories the IDPH uses as indicators are, new cases per 100,000 people, the number of deaths, weekly test positivity rates, ICU availability, weekly emergency department visits, weekly hospital admissions, tests performed, and clusters. 

Several counties are taking swift action to employ mitigation practices to prevent the spread of the virus such as the Mayor of Springfield ordering bar employees to wear masks or be subject to fines. 

The Taylorville Police Department has announced its nomination for Officer of the Second Quarter. On Friday, Taylorville Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler announced in a press release that Officer Jeff Wood was nominated for Officer of the Quarter. Chief Wheller said that Officer Wood's work ethic is exceptional and that "he has demonstrated his ability to work cases to the very end in a professional manner.  Officer Wood is an asset to the Taylorville Police Department.

The Christian County Board will hold a special meeting on Monday at noon at the Christian County Courthouse. The meeting will be conducted via remote and can be accessed by dialing (701)802-5367 and using the access code 7943957#. The business at hand will be approving additional appropriations for special assistent state’s attorney Ben Jacobi, to provide legal counsel to text County and the Zoning Board of Appeals in the continuation of public hearings regarding the text amendments.

The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is set to take place on August 5th. 

The Taylorville City Council will meet Monday evening at  7 PM for the first August city council meeting of the month. Under ordinance’s the council will push through a couple of amendments dealing with street signs. There will also be a resolution regarding an easement on Sunset Avenue and a rights of way agreement. There is also a discussion of a resolution to levy an additional tax of .02% for the library purchase of sites and buildings, for the construction and equipment of buildings, and for the maintenance, repairs, and alterations of Library buildings and equipment.

There is a motion on the table to authorize the City Treasurer to transfer $300,000 of funds from the 2% utility tax-street construction to the equipment appropriated item all within the street department appropriation section. There is a motion as well to change Lake Marina Hours and a special events permit that will be discussed. There will be a vote to approve the appointment of Geoffrey Ortman as Lake Superintendent upon the retirement of Bart Bialas and to approve the appointment of Mike Tennant as Cemetary Superintendent. 

Under committee reports, for street and sewer, is a motion for a special events permit for Kiwanis Club Kids Day and the Homecoming Parade in September. As always there will be Mayor’s comments and City attorney updates. 
 

An area hospital is reopening elective services and clinics on Monday. Pana Community Hospital announced over the weekend that they would be reopening all elective services and physician clinics after precautionary COVID-19 testing is complete. With contact tracing conducted, the hospital is once again fully functional and open for scheduled appointments, walk-in, and emergency care needs for the community. Visitation does remain restricted and screening of patients continues at the emergency entrance.  

Providers for both Pana Medical Group along with Community Medical Clinic will continue seeing patients in the clinic and through video visits.  If you have respiratory symptoms, video visits are mandatory. Testing for respiratory illnesses continues to be done as a drive-up service on the hospital campus near the MABAS tent. The Rehab and Wellness Center is open for Rehab appointments as well as Cardiopulmonary patients. LiveWell Fitness intends on opening August 8th. 

Trina Casner, president, and CEO of Pana Community Hospital says she is thankful for her community. “We would like to thank our community for supporting our hospital and clinics through these difficult times. We have always put patient safety first and provide our community with the best health care services possible. Our community is seeing an outbreak of positive cases. We cannot fight this battle alone so our hospital is asking community members to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community by committing to doing the following: wearing masks when in public, social distancing, washing hands frequently and avoiding gatherings of large groups.”
 

The Illinois State Police responded to a vehicle crash on Sunday afternoon. ISP is investigating a vehicle crash on Interstate 55 at Milepost 90 in Sangamon County on Sunday around 1:17 PM. 

A preliminary investigation shows that 18-year-old Justin Misialik of Chatham, 38-year-old Shane Bradford of Chatham, and Abdulqadir Ali of Columbus, Ohio were traveling southbound. Misialik tried merging into the far right lane of traffic from the right shoulder striking Bradford’s vehicle on its passenger side. Bradford than rolled over while traveling into the middle lane striking Ali’s vehicle on its passenger side rear trailer.

Bradford was transported to a local area hospital with injuries. Misialik was issued citations for operating an uninsured vehicle and improper lane usage.

Shelby County Partners is an extension of each local community, according to Maria Shafer.

Shafer went on to say that they have also been heavily involved in the remodeling of the Windsor Township Community Building. 

They have a partnership with South Eastern Illinois Community Foundation to manage the money so that they can focus on raising money.

Maria Shafer was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The job of a Nurse Practitioner is a difficult one, but Karen Koenig who works as one at HSHS Medical Group in Taylorville says that it’s an important one.

Koenig explained what she does as a Nurse Practitioner.
 

Koenig has a passion for nursing and that nursing is a career that can take you anywhere.
 

The importance of having a primary care physician cannot be understated, according to Koenig. 

Karen Koenig was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The Shelby Electric Cooperative does a lot of work in the community and with the youth, according to Kevin Bernson.

Electric safety is an important topic and Bernson wanted to remind everyone about the danger of trees that take down power lines.

The lineman at the Shelby Electric Cooperative go through a significant amount of safety programs and training.

Kevin Bernson was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Shelby County is open for business according to Shelby County Board Chair Bruce Cannon.

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic and no employee of Shelby County has yet to test positive for the virus.

Cannon said that an important takeaway from the coronavirus is that good hygiene is always important.

Shelby County Board Chairman Bruce Cannon was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

Ramey Miller has a passion for helping people, so she created RunDeep Coaching. Miller started RunDeep Coaching during a difficult time in her life and running was her favorite outlet.

In a session with Miller she will get into the different habits and behaviors that make up your life.

Miller has a podcast called RunDeeper and she finds podcasting to be relaxing and her podcast helps her reach a much larger audience.

For more information on RunDeep Coaching, please visit rundeepcoaching.com. Ramey Miller was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.
 

The Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development has been keeping rather busy, according to Executive Director Laurrie Minor. They recently worked with Eastern Illinois University on a story about the history of Sullivan.

As the Executive Director of the Sullivan Chamber, Minor talks with small business owners on a regular basis. The business owners that Minor has talked with recently are somewhat nervous about the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases.

A lot of the Sullivan based businesses are sole proprietorships and according to Minor they’re not eligible for the assistance that other businesses are eligible for. 

Laurrie Minor was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

President Trump late last week suggested delaying the election until it is safe for everyone to vote in person, but nationally syndicated radio host Jim Bohannon says that the President can’t do that and only Congress can.

Former Vice President and current Democrat Presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to pick his Vice Presidential Candidate this week and Bohannon expects Biden to select California Senator Kamala Harris.

Bohannon also thinks that another stimulus is desperately needed to help struggling families. 

Jim Bohannon was a guest on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show. 
 

The Chris-Mont Emergency Management Agency issued a news release at 6:30 Saturday night, that the Pana McDonald’s closed at 8 o’clock Saturday night due to 2 employees testing positive for COVID-19. 

The agency added that upon notification of the positive cases within the facility, they were in direct contact with the Local Health Department and Chris-Mont EMA. Additional contact tracing is being completed now by the Christian County Health Department. 

Chris-Mont EMA says if you were recently a customer at the Pana McDonald’s, your risk of exposure would be very low and you do not need to take any further action. 

They add that you should always monitor your health, and if you begin to feel ill or have a concern, contact your physician for further guidance.

During this closure period, additional deep cleaning and disinfecting will be completed. The Pana McDonald’s team thanks everyone for their support as they navigate through COVID-19.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Christian County Health Department, have extended the COVID-19 testing site located at the Christian County Fairgrounds at 1716 W Spresser Street in Taylorville, thru next Tuesday, August 4th. 

The site will be open from 9 to 5 each day.  Watch for the signs off of West Spresser Street and Houston Street, for the proper way to enter and exit.  

This testing site will continue to be open to anyone wishing to be tested. Appointments are not necessary. You will be asked for your insurance information, however, insurance is not required. 

There is no out of pocket cost for this testing, and they’ll test any age. The results will return within 2-7 days depending upon the demand at the labs on a given day.

The Christian County Health Department asks that you follow signs and instructions and show patience, as the wait time may vary depending on volume.