THEThe G Talk AndAZETTE- Cobden Review • ServingD UnionEMOCRAT County Since 1849 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Anna, Illinois ©2021 Reppert Publications $1.00 Volume 172, Number 23 For those fully vaccinated... News Governor rescinds Illinois mask mandate By Sarah Mansur mits fully vaccinated peo- requires residents follow to private businesses to de- checking a vaccine pass- Notes Capitol News Illinois ple to not wear masks or this recommendation re- cide if they want to require port as part of some state Items of interest smansur@capitol- physically distance in any garding planes and public patrons to provide proof of mandate.” from throughout newsillinois.com non-health care setting, transportation. It also per- vaccinations. The mask mandate in Il- the Union County area SPRINGFIELD – Gov. “except where required by mits any entity to continue “We are relying on peo- linois took effect last May JB Pritzker issued a new federal, state, local, tribal, stricter masking require- ple to do the right thing,” when Pritzker issued an Congratulations to all executive order Monday or territorial laws, rules, and ments than are required by he said. “We are relying executive order requiring of Union County’s 2021 that allows fully vaccinated regulations, including local the state. upon people to recognize anyone older than 2 years of graduates. residents to not wear masks business and workplace “(B)usinesses are en- that they don’t want to go age “to cover their nose and *** inside and outdoors. guidance.” couraged to prioritize the infect other unvaccinated mouth with a face-covering A Memorial Day service The updated rules for The CDC still recom- health and safety of their people and they don’t them- when in a public place and is set for 9:30 a.m. Monday, mask wearing are nearly mends that fully vaccinated workers and customers, selves want to get sick and unable to maintain a six- May 31, at the Cobden identical to the U.S. Centers people wear masks in health and may continue to require so it’s important for people foot social distance.” Cemetery. for Disease Control and care settings, as well as on face coverings and social to protect themselves and I A spokesperson for the *** Prevention’s updated guid- planes, trains and other distancing, even for those think there’s real motiva- secretary of state said the The Mound City Nation- ance, which was released forms of public transporta- who are fully vaccinated,” tion for people to go get office is awaiting further al Cemetery Preservation Thursday, May 13. tion. the order states. that. We’re not going to stop direction from the governor The CDC guidance per- The new executive order Pritzker said it will be up people and, you know, start (continued on page 2) Commission plans to have a Memorial Day program on Saturday, May 29. The program is planned at 10 COVID-19 virtual a.m. at Veteran’s Park in Mound City. *** town hall meeting set The Thebes Courthouse While the Illinois De- ity to educate and spread plans to open for 2021 tours partment of Public Health, awareness when it comes beginning on Memorial IDPH, reported on May 13 to public health concerns,” Day weekend, Saturday and that more than 62 percent of Sawyer said. Sunday, May 29-30. Illinois adults have already Special guests for the vir- *** received their first dose of tual town hall are scheduled The annual Blessing of the COVID-19 vaccine, to include Dr. Damon Ar- the Bikes is planned Sun- hesitancy among residents nold with Blue Cross, Blue day, May 23, at the Cross to get vaccinated continues Shield of Illinois; IDPH di- of Peace on Bald Knob to be a primary concern in rector Dr. Ngozi Ezike; and Mountain near Alto Pass. the healthcare community. Dr. Vidhya Prakash and Dr. *** For Southern Seven Vidya Sundareshan with the The Cobden Lions Club Health Department, and the SIU School of Medicine. has posted a message on rest of Illinois, one county Those in attendance at Facebook about this year’s in particular is drawing the meeting will have the Cobden Peach Festival. The festival is scheduled Aug. widespread attention. opportunity to ask ques- 6-7, with a full carnival, Alexander County cur- tions about COVID-19 and performances by the Uncle rently has the lowest vac- the vaccines. Pecos and Diamond Dog cination rate of any county The Centers for Disease bands, a queen pageant, in the state. Control and Prevention, food and peaches. As of May 13, only 12 CDC, reports that a num- *** percent of the population ber of studies show that The Village of Cobden is in the county had been vac- COVID-19 vaccines are making plans for the 2021 cinated – despite weekly working in the real world. Peach Festival parade. vaccine clinics being held Studies show them to be *** in the county since January. greater than 90 percent ef- Stinson Memorial Li- In an effort to understand fective in preventing mild brary in Anna posted a the reasons behind the low and severe disease, hospi- message on Facebook that rate, Southern Seven Health talization and death. Heartland Haven Build- Department plans to have Vaccines have also prov- ing & Design has finished a community COVID-19 en to be effective against installing plexiglass at the virtual town hall meeting the SARS-CoV-2 variants facility. The message also on May 25 from 6 p.m. to currently circulating in the read: “Wondering when 7 p.m. country. Parade held for Cobden High School seniors The health department you’ll be able to come and The health department Members of the Cobden High School graduating class of 2021 participated said that it is through dis- in a senior parade which was held Tuesday evening, May 11, in the Union see it in person? Check was approached by mem- back here for more updates cussions with healthcare County village. The event followed the route of a parade which is held during bers of the Alexander-Pu- soon.” professionals and those the Cobden Peach Festival. Seniors, who were dressed in their graduation laski Branch of the NAACP *** who have received the vac- caps and gowns, rode in vehicles through the Cobden downtown area. The Friends of Stinson to plan the virtual town hall cine that vaccine hesitancy Memorial Library are plan- meeting. can be overcome. ning to have a summer book This was in response to “We are trying to give Illinois State Police planning special traffic sale on Saturday, June 12. the sharp reduction in at- residents an opportunity to *** tendance at vaccine clinics ask those burning questions enforcement patrols during May in county The Anna City Park was in the area, organizers said. about COVID-19 and the Illinois State Police est to traffic crashes and Impaired driving is a fac- a busy place last Friday “The main goal of the vaccines,” Sawyer said. District 22 is planning to fatalities. tor in more than 30 percent evening. town hall is to have a down- “Understandably so, our conduct Special Traffic Those violations include of traffic deaths in Illinois, (continued on page 2) to-earth conversation with community still has ques- Enforcement Patrols during driving under the influence, the state police noted. tions and this is our way of residents in our region,” May in Union County. DUI; safety belt and child Speeding is a factor in trying to help with that.” restraint use; speeding; and said Natalie Sawyer, the Capt. Michael Alvey, the nearly 35 percent of fatal health educator director To join the conversation, distracted driving. visit the link at www.south- commander of District 22, crashes; and, nearly 50 per- at Southern Seven Health The Illinois State Police ern7.org or on Facebook at announced plans for the will increase their daytime cent of vehicle occupants Department. @SouthernSevenHealth- patrols. and nighttime patrols to killed in traffic crashes were “We accept that getting Department. For more in- The patrols will allow ensure the safety of vehicle known to not be buckled up. vaccinated is a personal formation, contact Natalie the state police to focus on travelers through enforce- The project is funded choice. However, it re- Sawyer at 618-634-2297, the “fatal four” violations ment of all traffic safety through the Illinois Depart- mains all of our responsibil- extension 9136. which contribute the great- laws. ment of Transportation. Invocation at Dongola graduation ceremony Dongola High School held its annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, for the 2021 graduating class. The ceremony was held in the Dongola High School gymnasium. Senior Matthew Aden led the invocation at the start of the ceremony. Photo by Benjamin Marxer. Page 2 - Section A Thursday, May 20, 2021 The Gazette-Democrat THE GAZETTE-DEMOCRAT THE TALK AND COBDEN REVIEW Serving Union County Since 1849 (USPS 215-280) 112 Lafayette St., P.O. Box 529 Anna, Illinois 62906-0529 Phone: 618-833-2158 Fax: 618-833-5813 Email: [email protected] Member Periodical postage paid at Anna, Illinois 62906-0529 PUBLISHED THURSDAY Jerry L. Reppert................................................................Publisher Geof Skinner...........................................................................Editor Lonnie J. Hinton ..............................................Production Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES Union County................................$40.00 Six months out of area.................$45.00 City of Anna salutes long-time employee Elsewhere in 629 Zip Code...........$42.00 Students (nine months)................$41.00 The City of Anna is saluting a long-time employee. After 20 years of service to the city, Stegle is Out of area....................................$50.00 Armed services............................$41.00 retiring. His last day of work is May 21. Stegle started with the city as a meter reader. “Hard work and Six months in county....................$37.00 Single copy....................................$1.00 dedication paid off as he made his way to gas and water foreman,” the city’s public works manager, Six months in 629 Zip Code.........$38.00 Mailed copy...................................$5.00 Gary Dahmer, stated.