News Notes County Clerk Addresses Concerns About Election
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THEThe G Talk AndAZETTE- Cobden Review • ServingD UnionEMOCRAT County Since 1849 Thursday, June 4, 2020 Anna, Illinois ©2020 Reppert Publications $1.00 Volume 171, Number 25 News NotesItems of interest from throughout the Union County area Numerous American Red Cross blood drives are scheduled during June in Union County. The pan- demic is having a major im- pact on the nation’s blood supply. *** University of Illinois Extension on June 1 an- nounced that in-person events through July 31 will be postponed or hosted online. *** Southern Seven Health Department reports that Veteran honored the Illinois Department A hero at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna was of Human Services soon honored last Sunday with a special event. will offer statewide use of Veterans home resident Dave Johnson was saluted Electronic Benefits Transfer with a drive-by parade Sunday afternoon which was for the Women, Infants & held to salute his 101st birthday, which was May 31. Children’s, WIC, Nutrition Program. Mr. Johnson is a World War II veteran who served *** in the U.S. Army. He achieved the rank of Tech 5 dur- Local municipal officials ing his service. have been continuing to dis- The Illinois Veterans Home is located along North cuss the status of dispatch Main Street in Anna. The parade route was along services with the Union North Main Street, going past the veterans home. County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency services agencies and veterans orga- *** nizations were joined by many others to honor Mr. The 28th annual Bless- Johnson. ing of the Bikes was held last Sunday at the Cross In the photograph above, members of Southern Il- of Peace on Bald Knob linois Elks Lodges stopped to honor Mr. Johnson with Mountain near Alto Pass. a salute featuring a large American flag. The annual event was spon- In the other photograph, a float from the Veterans of sored by the Lord’s Paheece Foreign Wars Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 in Anna chapter of the Christian honored Mr. Johnson. Motorcylists Association. *** Anna Heights Baptist Church in Anna had a ser- vice in its parking lot last County clerk addresses concerns about election Sunday morning. In the midst of the coro- Gazette-Democrat: has changed. You can mark on your The application will be *** navirus/COVID-19 pan- As you may know, I put Everyone that voted in application whether you’d sent out by August 1st, The First Baptist Church demic, 2020 is an election out a letter a few weeks either the 2018 General, like to vote by mail or vote 2020. in Jonesboro plans to be year. A primary election ago about the possibil- 2019 Consolidated or 2020 in-person by either early If you would like to go open for worshipers on was held in March. A gen- ity of an all vote-by-mail General Primary Elections voting at the County Clerk’s ahead and apply for your Sunday morning, June 7. eral election is scheduled in election that would have will be mailed an applica- Office or at your designated mail-in ballot you may go *** November. been passed by the Illinois tion from the Union County polling place on election ahead and do that by in- The Anna Nazarene Concerns about the elec- Legislature. Clerk’s Office. day. (continued on page 2) Church is conducting tion process are ongoing My concerns were listed drive-in services on Sunday and were addressed during on why I believe this would mornings. the recent Illinois state leg- have been a bad decision *** islative session. for voters, myself as an Five new COVID-19 cases in county From a social media While the state legisla- Election Authority, and tax Southern Seven Health in their 20s and two females COVID-19 in its service posting: the Thrive Dis- ture was meeting, Union payers. Department on Monday, in their 50s. area on Friday, May 29. pensary in Anna was closed County Clerk Lance Mei- On Friday, May 22nd, June 1, confirmed 12 new Pulaski County: one male All of the cases reported Tuesday, June 2, due to senheimer voiced concerns both the Illinois House and cases of COVID-19 in the in his 20s, two males in on Friday were in Pulaski vandalism. about some of the issues Senate passed legislation region it serves in Southern their 30s and two males in County: three males in their *** that would change the No- Illinois. their 40s. 20s, three males in their 30s The Union County Mu- which were being dis- vember 3rd, 2020 election. seum in downtown Cobden cussed. The cases confirmed on Johnson County: one and four males in their 40s. had an unofficial opening With the session having Senate Bill 1863 isn’t Monday, by county, gender female in her 20s and one Five new confirmed last weekend. Further de- come to an end, the county what I had feared the most, and age, included: male in his 80s. cases were reported on tails about the reopening clerk shared his ongoing but it does cause for some Union County: one fe- The health department Thursday, May 28. All of of the museum were to be concerns in a letter to The concerns on what exactly male in her 20s, two males confirmed 10 new cases of (continued on page 2) announced. (continued on page 2) Illinois Secretary of State driver services facilities reopen Illinois Secretary of State through July 31, these fa- listed on www.cyberdriveil- stations and tape has been customer inside the vehicle. Jesse White announced his cilities will only serve: linois.com. applied to the floor in 6-foot Customers will be re- office’s reopening plan, New drivers (most will Protective Measures intervals to follow social quired to wear face masks beginning June 1, with the be 16-year-old driver ap- Customers and Illinois distancing guidelines, limit- unless medically unable. first two months focused plicants). Customers with Secretary of State employ- ing the number of custom- Disposable plastic will on serving only new driv- expired driver’s licenses ees will be required to wear ers inside a facility at one be used to cover the vehicle ers, customers with expired and ID cards. Vehicle trans- face masks, unless a medi- time. driver’s licenses/ID cards actions. cal condition prohibits the For drive tests, employ- seats during the drive test. and vehicle transactions. For all other services, safe use of a mask. ees will wear a face mask The plastic will be discard- As of May 26, there were people are asked to refer Plexiglass dividers have and a face shield due to the ed immediately after the more than 700,000 expired to the various departments been installed at all work close proximity with the conclusion of the drive test. driver’s licenses/ID cards and 1.9 million expired vehicle registrations. All Illinois Secretary of State departments and of- fices were scheduled to be open for business on June 1. On Tuesday, June 2, Tuesday through Saturday facilities (all driver services facilities statewide outside the Chicago metro area) were scheduled to open. A driver services facility is located in Anna. Hours of operation are scheduled Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednes- day through Friday, from 8 Drivers services facility in Anna reopens a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday This was the scene at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, at the Illinois Secretary of State’s drivers 7:30 a.m. to noon. services facility in Anna. Downstate facilities reopened this week following a lengthy closing caused For the first two months by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Page 2 - Section A Thursday, June 4, 2020 The Gazette-Democrat THE GAZETTE-DEMOCRAT County clerk Mississippi River flood THE TALK AND COBDEN REVIEW Serving Union County Since 1849 (continued from page 1) So if you request to vote (USPS 215-280) by mail, you won’t be al- warning continues 112 Lafayette St., P.O. Box 529 person request to our office, lowed to vote in person A flood warning contin- to continue rising to near Anna, Illinois 62906-0529 by mail, email or on our either early or on Election ues until next week for the 37.0 feet by Wednesday Phone: 618-833-2158 website. We don’t have the Mississippi River at Cape Fax: 618-833-5813 Day. morning, June 3. Email: [email protected] Member website ready yet for the We will also be making Girardeau. The forecast calls for the requests but we will soon. sure nobody abuses the The National Weather Periodical postage paid at Anna, Illinois 62906-0529 river to fall below flood Some concerns that I see vote by mail system and Service office in Paducah stage Tuesday evening, PUBLISHED THURSDAY with these new changes will will be making sure that reported early this week on June 9. Jerry L. Reppert................................................................Publisher be what we have to deal there will be no harvesting its website that recent heavy Mississippi River at Geof Skinner...........................................................................Editor with here in the office. or fraudulent activities with rains have caused the river Lonnie J. Hinton ..............................................Production Manager Thebes Sending out applications the ballots or applications. to rise. A flood warning is in ef- SUBSCRIPTION RATES to every voter will not be I’ve heard some concern As of Monday morning, fect until Monday, June 8. Union County................................$40.00 Six months out of area.................$45.00 cheap for the county and with the process of the mail June 1, the forecast was Elsewhere in 629 Zip Code...........$42.00 At 10 a.m.